COLUMBUS, Ohio – Legislation sponsored by two central Ohio lawmakers to curb the practice known as “predatory towing” has cleared the House and heads to the Senate.
The bill, which was approved unanimously, places stricter rules for towing vehicles and strengthens owners’ protections against unfair practices, according to co-sponsors Mike Duffey (R-Worthington) and Heather Bishoff (D-Blacklick).
“Representative Bishoff and I started this process saying the most important characteristic of a good bill would be consistency in the industry, both for consumers and for tow trucks. I think we’ve achieved that in this bill,” Duffey said during his address to the House,
Among other thing, the bill would limit the distance a vehicle may be towed, requires a towing company to accept credit cards as payment and gives owners a last-minute way to stop the towing in the first place.
“This legislation provides as many consumer protections as possible when a non-consensual tow takes place. It will put safeguards in place for Ohio consumers and offer a fair solution for a problem that has affected communities throughout Ohio,” Bishoff said.
Under the bill drivers would not be able to tow vehicle farther than 20 miles from the tow-away zone, companies would be required to accept major credit cards as payment, and allows a driver who arrives on the scene after their vehicle has been prepared for towing to pay a “drop fee” equal to one-half the normal charge to have the vehicle released before it is taken away.
The bill also provides a 24-hour “grace period” for storage fees and it bans kickbacks between property owners and tow companies.
A tow-truck operator would have to take photographs of the vehicle to prove that a parking infraction has taken place, which must be turned over to the vehicle’s owner upon request.