Legislator: Bill would address predatory towing practices, protect consumers

The Daily Reporter - Central Ohio Source
February 01, 2010

Legislation was introduced in the Ohio General Assembly last week to help reduce unfair, predatory towing practices in the state, and help protect Ohio consumers.

House Bill 425 would grant the Public Utilities Commission exclusive regulatory jurisdiction over all common and contract carrier towing companies and preempt local regulation, authorize the commission to establish a new certification program for common and contract carrier towing companies and a registration system for towed vehicle storage companies, revise law governing private tow-away zones, and make conforming changes in motor transportation company public utility law.

Rep. Tracy Heard, D-Columbus, the bill's sponsor, said she introduced HB 425 after speaking with constituents about their concerns over state towing.

"After countless meetings and discussion regarding this piece, I feel the work that went into HB 425 led to a responsible, common sense and much-needed bill," Heard said.

"Now consumers will be able to have a predictable course of action when they have their car towed. More importantly, the citizens of this state will have a mechanism to address situations where their rights have been abused and we will no longer live in a state where this type of recklessness and predation will go unpunished."

reprinted with permission of The Daily Reporter, copyright 2010

• Stolen car costs owner $5,827.68.Cincinnati.com, September 22, 2009
• Editorial: Too little oversightColumbus Dispatch, June 17, 2009
• Dicey towing under reviewColumbus Dispatch, June 8, 2009
• Towing operator charged in scamColumbus Dispatch, October 23, 2007
• Tow-truck driver guilty of reckless homicideColumbus Dispatch, February 24, 2006
• Heavy-wrecker truck operator on trial in death of OSU studentColumbus Dispatch, February 22, 2006
• Bill would impose more stringent tow penaltiesDayton Daily News, April 28, 2004
• Man sentenced in tow-truck deathColumbus Dispatch, April 25, 2006
• The towing mazeToledo Blade, January 25, 2005
• Tow-truck operators lack city oversightColumbus Dispatch, August 7, 2005
• Off the hook Columbus Dispatch, August 15, 2005

Articles have been reprinted with permission of The Blade of Toledo and the Columbus Dispatch.

Dayton Daily News article titled “Bill would impose more stringent tow penalties,” April 28, 2004. Copyright Dayton Newspapers, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.