HB 443 -- Abandoned Vehicles

Sponsor:  Green

This bill allows property or security managers of real property
to authorize a towing company to remove property only when the
property or security manager is present.  Such managers must be
full-time employees of a business entity.  The circumstances in
which abandoned property may be towed from real property is
revised to include property improperly parked in a restricted or
assigned area.  The required parking notification signs in
addition to containing the telephone number of the local traffic
law enforcement agency where information can be obtained may
also contain a 24 hour staffed emergency information telephone
number which the abandoned property owner may call to receive
information regarding the location of the property.  Property
owners or lessees requesting the towing of abandoned property
without authorization from law enforcement officials must
complete an abandoned property report at the time of the tow
instead of within one hour of the tow.

A company towing without law enforcement authorization must
deliver a copy of the abandoned property report to the local law
enforcement agency.  The report must be delivered within 2 hours
if the tow was made from a signed location; otherwise, the
report must be delivered within 24 hours.

The duty to notify the Department of Revenue of abandoned
property is shifted from law enforcement officials to the person
doing the towing.