Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, March 7, 2024:
With unanimous votes in the Florida House and Senate, the Florida Legislature has passed significant predatory towing and recovery reform legislation that is now headed to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
House Bill 179, led by State Rep. Melony Bell and State Sen. Keith Perry, was a multi-year effort to enact meaningful reforms to the towing and recovery business in Florida.
Florida Trucking Association President and CEO Alix Miller called the bill’s passage "a huge victory for trucking in Florida, the trucking industry nationally, who have seen invoices as high as $200,000, and the motoring public, who fall victim to predatory towing companies.”
HB 179 will require towing and storage operators to maintain a rate sheet listing all fees related to vehicle or vessel recovery, removal, or storage. They must post this rate sheet at their place of business and provide it upon request to vehicle or vessel owners, lienholders, insurance companies, or their agents.
[Related: Predatory towing: How can fleets avoid becoming victims?]
