TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new measure to
protect Florida consumers against
dishonest towers was signed into law recently by Governor
Ron DeSantis (R-FL). The legislation
(HB 179), which was strongly supported by the National Insurance
Crime Bureau (NICB), will provide critical consumer protections so
Floridians do not become a victim of predatory towing practices. It
was sponsored by Representative Melony
Bell (R-Fort Meade) in the
Florida House of Representatives.
A companion bill was sponsored by Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) in the Florida Senate.
"Predatory towing in Florida
has emerged as a pressing issue for the Sunshine State,
significantly impacting individuals' lives and livelihoods and this
measure will go a long way in implementing critical reform
measures," said Eric De Campos,
Senior Director of Strategy, Policy and Government Affairs for the
National Insurance Crime Bureau. "We really appreciate the hard
work by Representative Bell and Senator Perry to address this
issue, because predatory towing places significant financial
burdens on unsuspecting vehicle owners as hidden towing fees leaves
individuals with an unexpected and hefty expense. We also want to
thank the legislature for addressing this important issue, and the
governor for signing this bill into law."
NICB noted that vehicle accidents that result in predatory
towing practices remain a significant issue for policymakers across
Florida and the country. After an
accident, vehicle owners find themselves in high-stress situations
that can create the perfect opportunity for unscrupulous towers to
exploit victims. Law enforcement agencies have seen examples of
towers charging accident victims exorbitant fees for a tow
requiring only a few-miles – sometimes as high as $10,000 for a single, routine tow.
"There is a real need for comprehensive reform to protect
consumers from unfair and exploitative practices. Until meaningful
reform is enacted, individuals in Florida will remain vulnerable to the pitfalls
of predatory towing, with the potential for financial hardship and
emotional distress looming over every parking decision," said
Rep. Bell.
"We need decisive action to combat predatory towing practices
and ensure fairness and transparency for Florida's residents," said Senator
Perry. "This law would implement important measures that
protect consumers and promote accountability within the towing
industry."
The new law will:
- Require reasonable towing and storage fees so that
consumers don't face fraudulent or inflated charges;
- Require towers to accept additional methods of payment
to allow consumers more flexibility to pay their bills and for
towers to receive the money they are owed more quickly;
- Shorten notice of lien periods so consumers can more
quickly get their vehicles released; and
- Extend the amount of time in which vehicle owners may
recover their vehicles before they are sold off.
About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in
Oak Brook, Ill., the National
Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading
not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and
preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and
Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy,
and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and
casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To
learn more, visit NICB.org.
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SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau