Bill Text: VA HB1956 | 2011 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Trespassing vehicles; regulation of removal by localities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-02-17 - Senate: Letter sent to Board of Towing and Recovery Operators [HB1956 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2011-HB1956-Engrossed.html

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11103548D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1956 House Amendments in [ ] – February 7, 2011 A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1232 of the Code of Virginia, relating to regulation of removal of trespassing vehicles by localities. ---------- Patron Prior to Engrossment--Delegate Rust ---------- Referred to Committee on Transportation ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-1232 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-1232. Localities may regulate removal or immobilization of trespassing vehicles.

A. The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance regulate the removal of trespassing vehicles from property by or at the direction of the owner, operator, lessee, or authorized agent in charge of the property, provided that [ the towing and recovery operator be permitted to tow the vehicle at least 10 miles from the location of the tow no locality shall limit the ability to remove a trespassing vehicle from one locality and store or release it in another as long as the stored or released location is within 5 miles of the actual tow ] . In the event that a vehicle is towed from one locality and stored in or released from a location in another locality, the local ordinance, if any, of the locality from which the vehicle was towed shall apply.

B. No local ordinance adopted under authority of this section shall require that any towing and recovery business also operate as or provide services as a vehicle repair facility or body shop, filling station, or any business other than a towing and recovery business.

C. Any such local ordinance may also require towing and recovery operators to (i) obtain and retain photographs or other documentary evidence substantiating the reason for the removal; (ii) post signs at their main place of business and at any other location where towed vehicles may be reclaimed conspicuously indicating (a) the maximum charges allowed by local ordinance, if any, for all their fees for towing, recovery, and storage services and (b) the name and business telephone number of the local official, if any, responsible for handling consumer complaints; (iii) obtain at the time the vehicle is towed, verbal approval of an agent designated in the local ordinance who is available at all times; and (iv) obtain, at the time the vehicle is towed, if such towing is performed during the normal business hours of the owner of the property from which the vehicle is being towed, the written authorization of the owner of the property from which the vehicle is towed, or his agent. Such written authorization, if required, shall be in addition to any written contract between the towing and recovery operator and the owner of the property or his agent. For the purposes of this subsection, "agent" shall not include any person who either (a) is related by blood or marriage to the towing and recovery operator or (b) has a financial interest in the towing and recovery operator's business.