Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB841 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version Filed 04/20/2023

                             
 
 
An Act 
ENROLLED SENATE 
BILL NO. 841 	By: Paxton of the Senate 
 
  and 
 
  Sims of the House 
 
 
 
 
An Act relating to motor vehicle storage rate s; 
amending 47 O.S. 2021, Section 953.2, which relates 
to fees and charges for storage of towed vehicles; 
modifying inclusions; adding applicable entities; 
specifying acceptable forms of payment; modifying 
duties of facilities; and providing an effective 
date. 
 
 
 
SUBJECT:  Repair facilities 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
 
SECTION 1.    AMENDATORY    47 O.S. 2021, Section 953.2, is 
amended to read as follows: 
 
Section 953.2. A.  The rates established by order of the 
Corporation Commission shall deter mine the maximum fees and charges 
for the storage and after-hours release of noncons ensual towed 
vehicles, including incorporated and unincorporated areas, by a 
wrecker or towing service licensed by the Department of Public 
Safety and repair facilities as defined in Section 953 of Title 15 
of the Oklahoma Statutes.  No wrecker or towing service or repair 
facilities shall charge any fee for nonconsensual towed vehicles and 
storage which exceeds the maximum rates established by the 
Commission. Such rates shall be in addition to any other rates, 
fees or charges authorized, allowed or required by law, including 
environmental remediation fees and services. 
 
B.  1.  Storage or after-hours release of a towed ve hicle, or 
both, provided by a wrecker or towing servic e or by a repair   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 841 	Page 2 
facility shall be recorded by the operator on a bill or invoice as 
prescribed by rules of the Department. 
 
2.  Nothing herein shall limit the right of an operato r or 
repair facility who has provided or caused to be provided stora ge or 
after-hours release of a towed vehicle, or both, to require 
prepayment, in part or in full, or guarantee of payment of any 
charges incurred for providing such services. 
 
3.  This section shall not be construed to require an operator 
or repair facility to charge a fee for the storage or after -hours 
release, or both, of any towed vehicle. 
 
4.  The operator or repair facility is authorized to collect all 
lawful fees in acceptable forms of payment such as through check, 
credit card, automated clearing house transfer, o r debit card from 
the owner, lienholder or agent of the towed vehicle or insurer 
accepting liability for paying the claim for a vehicle or pur chasing 
the vehicle as a total loss vehicle from the registered owner for 
the performance of any an d all such services.  An operator or repair 
facility shall make the towed vehicle available for in spection by 
the owner, lien holder, agent of the towed vehicle , or insurer 
accepting liability for paying the claim for a vehicle and shall 
release the vehicle from storage upon authorization from the owner, 
agent or lienholder of the vehicle or in the cas e of a total loss, 
the insurer accepting liability for paying the claim for the v ehicle 
or purchasing the vehicle where the vehicle is to be moved to an 
insurance pool yard for sale. 
 
C.  The rates in subsections D through F of this section shall 
be applicable until superseded by rates established by the 
Commission. 
 
D.  Outdoor Storage Rates. 
 
1.  Rates in this subsection shall apply to the outdoor storage 
of a towed vehicle.  Rates may be applied from the time the t owed 
vehicle is brought onto the outdoor storage facility premises.  
Rates shall apply to each calendar day of outdoor stora ge; provided, 
the maximum twenty-four-hour fee, as provided for in this section, 
may be charged for any towed vehicle which is store d for a portion 
of a twenty-four-hour period.   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 841 	Page 3 
 
2.  Maximum outdoor storage rates shall be as follows: 
 
 	Rate per Each 
 
 	24-hour Period or 
 
Type of Towed Vehicle 	Portion Thereof 
 
Single vehicle:  motorcycle, automobile, 
or light truck up to 20 feet in length $15.00 
 
Single vehicle or combination of vehicles 
over 20 feet in length but less than 30 
feet in length  	$20.00 
 
Single vehicle or combination of vehicles 
over 30 feet in length and up to 8 feet 
in width  	$25.00 
 
Single vehicle or combination of vehicles 
over 30 feet in length and over 8 fee t 
in width  	$35.00 
 
E.  Indoor Storage Rates:. 
 
1.  Rates in this subsection shall apply to the indoor storage 
of a towed vehicle.  Rates may be a pplied from the time the towed 
vehicle is brought into the indoor storage facili ty premises.  Rates 
shall apply to each calendar day of indoor storage; provided, the 
maximum twenty-four-hour fee, as provided for in this section, may 
be charged for any towe d vehicle which is stored for a portion o f a 
twenty-four-hour period. 
 
2.  Maximum indoor storage rates shall be as follows: 
 
 	Rate per Each 
 
 	24-hour Period or 
 
Type of Towed Vehicle 	Portion Thereof 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 841 	Page 4 
Single vehicle:  motorcycle, automobile, 
or light truck up to 20 feet in length $25.00 
 
Single vehicle or combination of vehicles 
over 20 feet in length but less than 30 
feet in length  	$30.00 
 
Single vehicle or combination of vehicles 
over 30 feet in length and up to 8 feet 
in width  	$35.00 
 
Single vehicle or combin ation of vehicles 
over 30 feet in length and over 8 feet 
in width  	$45.00 
 
3.  For purposes of this subsection, “indoor storage” means the 
vehicle is kept in an enclosed facility. 
 
F.  After-Hours Release Rate. 
 
1.  The rate in this subsection shall apply to the release of a 
towed vehicle to the own er, lienholder, or agent when such rele ase 
occurs at a time other than normal busine ss hours. 
 
2.  As used in this subsection: 
 
a. “after-hours release rate” shall mean the rate charged 
for the release of a towed vehi cle between the hours 
of midnight and 8:00 a.m., or between the hours of 
4:00 p.m. and midnight Monday through Friday, or any 
time on Saturday, Sunday or a national holiday, and 
 
b. “national holiday” shall mean New Year’s Day, Martin 
Luther King Day, Georg e Washington’s Birthday, on the 
third Monday in February, Memorial Day, Independ ence 
Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgivi ng Day and 
Christmas Day, and shall further include the Friday 
before such national holiday which falls on a Saturday 
and the Monday following such national holiday which 
falls on a Sunday. 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 841 	Page 5 
3.  The maximum after -hours release rate shall be Fifteen 
Dollars ($15.00) per quarter hour for the release of any single 
vehicle or combination o f vehicles. 
 
G.  An operator or repair facility shall be required to provide 
reasonable documentation to substantiate all lawful fee s charged the 
owner, lienholder, agent or ins urer accepting liability for paying 
the claim for the towed vehicle or purchasin g the towed vehicle.  
Fees for which the operator or repair facility is being reimbursed, 
or having paid to a third party, shall in clude copies of the invoice 
or other appropriate documents to substantiate the payment to the 
third party. 
 
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 
   
 
ENR. S. B. NO. 841 	Page 6 
Passed the Senate the 9th day of March, 2023. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the Senate 
 
 
Passed the House of Representatives the 19th day of April, 2023. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the House 
 	of Representatives 
 
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 
Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________ 
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. 
By: _______________________________ __ 
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____ 
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. 
 
 	_________________________________ 
 	Governor of the State of Oklahoma 
 
 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE 
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___ 
day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. 
By: _______________________________ __