Towing violations; enforcement; fuel surcharge fee. Authorizes localities in Planning Districts 8 and 16 to require written authorization of the owner of the property from which the vehicle is towed at the time the vehicle is being towed and regulate the monitoring practices that may be used by towing and recovery operators. Current law authorizes localities other than those in Planning Districts 8 and 16 to require written authorization of the owner of the property from which the vehicle is towed at the time the vehicle is being towed. The bill changes the penalty for certain trespass towing offenses in Planning District 8 from $150 per violation paid to the Literary Fund to 10 times the total amount charged for such removal, towing, and storage to be paid to the victim of the unlawful towing. The bill also changes the expiration date of the authorization for towing and recovery operators to charge a fuel surcharge fee of no more than $20 for each vehicle towed or removed from private property without the consent of its owner and the prohibition on local governing bodies limiting or prohibiting such fee from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101550D: 46.2-119, 59.1-200, 46.2-1233.3
House: Committee substitute printed 24105910D-H1: 46.2-1232, 46.2-1233.3
Senate: Committee substitute printed 24108476D-S1: 46.2-1232, 46.2-1233.3
House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB959ER): 46.2-1232, 46.2-1233.3
Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0537): 46.2-1232, 46.2-1233.3