House Bill 972, known as the "Modernization of Towing, Immobilization, and Oversight Normalization (MOTION) Act of 2025," seeks to enhance and clarify the regulations surrounding the towing and immobilization of motor vehicles in Tennessee. The bill introduces a detailed framework that defines essential terms such as "abandoned motor vehicle," "booting," and "commercial parking lot," while establishing penalties for violations. A significant feature of the bill is the creation of a motor vehicle portal by the Department of Revenue, which will serve as an electronic database for law enforcement and garagekeepers to record information about abandoned or immobile vehicles, ensuring public access to this data. The legislation also includes provisions for the secure storage of firearms found in vehicles, regulations for the use of automatic license plate readers, and mandates clear signage regarding parking fees and penalties.

The bill amends existing laws to require express written authorization for towing vehicles, with specific exceptions, and mandates that towing companies notify law enforcement within one hour of towing a vehicle if the owner is absent. It also outlines the conditions under which garagekeepers can store vehicles, prohibits excessive fees, and establishes a process for notifying vehicle owners and lienholders. Additionally, the bill addresses the sale of abandoned vehicles, requiring public auctions and detailing the allocation of proceeds. It allows law enforcement to waive their right to sell a vehicle in favor of a garagekeeper and introduces provisions for demolishers to acquire abandoned vehicles without a title under certain conditions. Notably, the bill eliminates the requirement for newspaper advertisements for vehicle sales, instead mandating that notices be posted on the new online portal.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 66-14-104, 66-19-103(b)(1)(A), 66-19-103, 66-19-103(b)(1)(B), 66-19-103(b)(6), 66-19-103(c), 47-18-104(b)(65), 47-18-104, 47-18-104(b)(66)