Virginia bill allowing localities to require consent from property owners before towing was signed into law

Virginia bill allowing localities to require consent from property owners before towing was signed into law

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A bill that would require towing and recovery operators to have written consent by the property owner before towing has been signed into law by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

House Bill 959, introduced by Del. Alfonso H. Lopez, authorizes localities in Planning Districts 8 and 16 to require written authorization of the owner of the property from which the vehicle is towed at the time it is being towed.

The following are the areas represented in their respective Planning Districts:

• District 8 — Loudoun County, Prince William County, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park
• District 16 — Spotsylvania County, Carolina County, King George County, Stafford County, Fredericksburg

Before, localities other than Planning Districts 8 and 16 required written authorization of the owner of the property where the vehicle is being towed at the time it is being towed.

The approved bill will also change the expiration date of the authorization for towing and recovery operators to charge a fuel supercharge fee of no more than $20 for each vehicle towed or removed from private property without the consent of its owner, as well as the prohibition on local governing bodies limiting or prohibiting such fee for a year starting July 1, 2024.

The bill will regulate the monitoring practices that may be used by towing and recovery operators.

Youngkin amends skill games bill, would ban skill games in major cities like Richmond, Roanoke and Portsmouth

The bill will also change the penalty for certain trespass towing offenses in Planning District 8 to have 10 times the total amount charged for such removal, towing and storage to be paid to the victim of the unlawful towing. Previously, $150 per violation would be paid to the Literary Fund.

The new law will go into effect on July 1 of this year.

Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.