SCS/SB 1043 - This act creates several new regulations relating to towing practices. In authorizing a towing company to perform services at the scene of an accident, a highway patrol officer or a patrol officer within the officer's jurisdiction may utilize the services of a tow management company or tow list. The patrol officer shall not use a towing company located outside of Missouri unless a state or federal emergency has been declared or the driver or owner of the vehicle or a motor club, of which the driver or owner is a member, requests a specific out-of-state towing company. A towing company shall not tow a vehicle to a location outside of Missouri without the consent of the driver or owner of the motor vehicle. Any towing company or tow truck arriving at the scene of an accident that has not been called by a patrol officer, law enforcement officer, or the driver or owner of the vehicle or a motor club, of which the driver or owner is a member, shall be prohibited from towing the vehicle from the scene of the accident except in limited circumstances. A tow truck operator who violates the prohibition shall be subject to criminal penalties and the tow truck shall be subject to impounding. This act also creates several new regulations relating to the operation of the towing company. These regulations include displaying the business address in a location visible from the street or road, having and maintaining an operational telephone with the telephone number published or available through directory assistance, and posting and making available upon request a rate sheet listing all current rates applicable to towing services. Towing companies must also notify an owner of a motor vehicle of the location of such motor vehicle within a certain time period, and maintain regular business hours for motor vehicle owners or their authorized agents or insurance adjusters to view or retrieve a motor vehicle. Under this act, no additional fees shall be assessed for viewing or retrieving items from such vehicle, and the vehicle may be retrieved at the posted rate. Further, under this act, a towing company shall not charge any storage fee on a day which the towing company is not open for business.
This act is similar to HB 2320 (2016), HCS/SB 640 (2016), SCS/HCS/HB 1976 (2016), SB 851 (2014), and CCS/SS/HB 1707 (2014).
KAYLA HAHN