MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A bill now headed to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s desk places new restrictions for towing and booting vehicles in commercial parking lots.
Senate Bill 1692 would prohibit unlicensed companies and tow truck drivers from booting vehicles in the state, and it would cap the fee to remove a boot at $75.
Under the bill, only those licensed through a local government would be allowed to boot a vehicle, and the local government would be responsible for enforcing compliance with the new law. For example, in a commercial parking lot, there must be a licensed attendant who can be identified as an employee present, and they must be available to remove a boot within 45 minutes of a vehicle owner’s call.
When it comes to towing, the bill requires that owners are properly notified if their vehicle is towed, sold, or demolished by a towing company. And if the towing process is underway, but the car is still in the original parking area, the bill says companies must release the vehicle to the owner and they are not allowed to charge a fee of more than $100.
“This legislation will protect vehicle owners in Tennessee from bad actors seeking to profit off of immobilizing and confiscating vehicles,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), who sponsored the bill. “I’ve received complaints from many constituents who have had to go through unreasonably long and expensive processes to regain control of their vehicles which were unfairly immobilized or towed.”
If signed by Gov. Lee, the bill is set to take effect July 1, 2024.
