Vehicles: storage and towing.

Assembly Member Sharp-Collins proposes new limits on vehicle towing and storage fees through amendments to California's Vehicle Code that expand protections for vehicle owners while maintaining existing fee structures for law enforcement-initiated tows.

The legislation adds several categories to the list of presumptively unreasonable charges, including storage fees for state holidays that exceed standard daily rates and towing fees when law enforcement directs vehicle removal during emergencies. The amendments also classify as unreasonable various administrative costs such as security fees, dolly fees, load/unload fees, and pull-out fees. Gate fees remain permissible only when vehicle release is requested outside normal business hours, defined as 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For vehicles recovered within four hours, storage facilities may not charge more than 50% of their daily rate. The amendments maintain current provisions allowing storage fees during the first 15 days of possession and, beyond that period, only after three days have elapsed following written notification to the legal owner. Towing companies that remove vehicles during emergencies receive liability protection for good faith actions, though this protection excludes cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.