HB 1404 - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2721
12/08
HOUSE BILL 1404
AN ACT relative to consumer rights regarding towing of vehicles.
SPONSORS: Rep. Infantine, Hills. 13
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires tow truck operators to provide certain access and documentation to the owner of a vehicle towed from private property.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-2721
12/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT relative to consumer rights regarding towing of vehicles.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Towing From Private Property. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 108 the following new section:
265:108-a Towing From Private Property.
I. The owner of a vehicle towed from private property shall be notified of the provisions of this section immediately upon initial contact with the tow operator.
II. If the wrecker is on-site and the owner is able to correct the alleged violation immediately, the owner of a vehicle subject to towing may pay a curb release fee of $50 if the vehicle is unhooked or unattached to the wrecker, or $75 if the vehicle is hooked or attached to the wrecker.
III. Upon request from the owner of a vehicle, when a vehicle has been towed from private property to a private parking facility, the owner of the parking facility shall grant the owner of the vehicle one-time access to the vehicle.
IV. Upon request from the owner of a vehicle, the owner of the parking facility shall provide the following information and documentation to the owner of a vehicle towed to their facility:
(a) A copy of the written authorization to tow;
(b) A statement describing the grounds for towing the vehicle, the time of day the vehicle was first observed or reported to the tow operator, and the time of day the vehicle was towed;
(c) Any photographic evidence of the alleged violation; and
(d) An itemized list of the fees owed to the facility.
V. The owner of a parking facility may only charge the following fees:
(a) No more than $50 for after-hours release of a vehicle, provided that a parking facility owner shall not charge an after hours access fee pursuant to subparagraph (b) if charging a release fee, unless the access and release are 4-hours apart.
(b) No more than $50 for an after hours access fee for access required by paragraph II.
(c) No more than $30 per day for storage charges, provided that storage fees cannot be charged for the first 24-hour period after the vehicle arrives at the parking facility.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2022 | House | Hearing |
| March 3, 2022 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2022 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote |
March 15, 2022: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/15/2022 HJ 6
March 9, 2022: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 18-0; CC)
Feb. 23, 2022: ==CANCELLED== Subcommittee Work Session: 03/02/2022 09:00 am LOB 302-304
March 3, 2022: Executive Session: 03/03/2022 1:15 p.m. LOB302-304
March 3, 2022: Executive Session: 03/03/2022 1:15 p.m. LOB302-304
Feb. 15, 2022: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/24/2022 09:00 am LOB 302-304
Feb. 10, 2022: Public Hearing: 02/10/2022 10:00 a.m. LOB302-304
Dec. 1, 2021: Introduced 01/05/2022 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs