Vehicle repossessions.

Senator Strickland's vehicle repossession legislation establishes new restrictions on repossession agencies while clarifying procedures for vehicle impoundment and release. The bill prohibits repossession agencies from coordinating with third parties to set fees for personal effects and from accepting agreements that waive their duty to handle personal property during repossessions.

The legislation adds explicit authorization for licensed repossession agencies to file vehicle liens while modifying documentation requirements for vehicle releases. Law enforcement and impounding agencies must accept specific documents from legal owners or their agents without requiring notarization, including repossession certificates, security agreements, or vehicle titles. The bill specifies that requiring documentation beyond these items constitutes a violation of vehicle code provisions regarding release refusal.

For impounded vehicles, the measure outlines distinct procedures based on the reason for impoundment, from DUI violations to suspended licenses. Storage facilities must accept credit cards or cash for payment of towing and storage fees, with violations subject to civil penalties up to $500. The bill maintains existing provisions requiring storage facilities to notify legal owners within two working days of impoundment while adding indemnification requirements protecting agencies that properly release vehicles to legal owners or their agents.

The legislation preserves core responsibilities of registered owners, who remain liable for towing, storage, and administrative charges even when vehicles are released to legal owners. It also retains existing protections for rental car agencies while standardizing release procedures across different types of impoundment scenarios.