2 days Ago By Teresa Mettela
DRIVERS could get massive cuts on tow costs under a newly proposed bill that's left some industry leaders furious. Predatory towing is under fire in Indiana , as some bad-actor operators have tacked on steep hidden fees to drive up bills. Indiana lawmakers have brought back a bill that would crack down on deceptive towing practices in the state, as reported by Indiana Capital Chronicle .
Representatives said parts of the bill discuss "excessive" hefty fees on towing invoices. The bill would impact commercial vehicles that transport goods or passengers for business purposes, like trucks, vans, and buses. The bill states that drivers would be able to collect their vehicles from a towing company after paying only 70% of the invoice and filing a towing complaint.
read more motors stories Towing companies would also be limited in how much they can charge drivers for storage fees. The most controversial section of the bill was the proposed "Towing Complaint Advisory Board," which would be in charge of reviewing complaints about towing charges. On Tuesday, several trucking companies testified, claiming they would face hidden administrative fees and fuel charges as a result of the proposed legislation.
The trucking company representatives said it would cost thousands to tow wrecked trucks just a few miles away. Most read in Motors When there is an accident, law enforcement usually chooses which towing companies will handle the situation while truckers don't get much choice in the matter. "When we are number one in the nation for predatory towing when it comes to commercial vehicles, that’s not acceptable in my mind," said Representative Jim Pressel.
"This bill really kind of gets us into a place where we can try and have a common sense approach that is fair with both parties," he added. "It’s a mediation tool." The bill also wraps in other issues, including insurance verification, specialty license plates, and registration stickers.
The legislation was passed by the Senate panel in a 6-1 vote. The next step is for the bill to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee which has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation. Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a "No Parking" zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back. Steps to take when your car is towed: Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted "No Parking" sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail. Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day. If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps: Be prompt - many states have a small window of time where it's acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.
Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better. Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.
Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly. Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help.
They are often utilized for towing cases. Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice , National General , Rak Law Firm Despite this, several lawmakers are not completely sold on the bill. Although they recognize the importance of the issues, some lawmakers aren't convinced that the bill addresses these problems effectively. Specifically, the bill calls for a state board which would handle towing complaints.
"I don’t think this hits the target," said Senator Gary Byrne who voted against the bill. Read More on The US Sun "I’m a small business owner myself. I’m going to pay the bill.
I’m going to deal with the company through the court system. That can already happen." "I just believe that there’re some other avenues besides creating this board," he added.
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