BILL AS INTRODUCED H.346
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H.346 1
Introduced by Representatives Rachelson of Burlington and LaLonde of South 2
Burlington 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Motor vehicles; involuntary towing and storage; abandoned vehicles; 6
stolen vehicles; consumer protection 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish 8
maximum reasonable rates for the towing and storage of abandoned motor 9
vehicles, relieve crime victims from towing and storage charges related to a 10
vehicle that was towed after being stolen, and establish a working group to 11
examine funding mechanisms to reimburse towing services for costs incurred 12
in towing and storing stolen vehicles. 13
An act relating to charges for towing and storage of motor vehicles 14
belonging to crime victims 15
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 16
Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 2155 is amended to read: 17
§ 2155. FEES AND CHARGES 18
(a) Towing fees. For towing an abandoned motor vehicle from private 19
property, a towing service may charge a reasonable fee that is not more than 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.346
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$130.00 or $4.50 per mile towed, whichever is greater, to be paid by the 1
vehicle owner or the landowner of the private property. 2
(b) Storage charges. In addition to any towing fee, an owner or lienholder 3
reclaiming an abandoned motor vehicle may be charged and shall pay a fee for 4
the costs of storage of the vehicle that is not more than $35.00 per day, except 5
that no fee may be charged for storage for any period preceding the date upon 6
which the form for abandoned motor vehicle certification is sent to the 7
Department. 8
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section or any other 9
provision of law to the contrary, a person who has submitted a timely report to 10
an appropriate law enforcement agency that a vehicle towed pursuant to the 11
provisions of this subchapter was stolen shall not be liable for: 12
(1) any towing fees assessed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) 13
of this section; 14
(2) any storage charges that accrue prior to seven days after the date on 15
which a second notice is sent to the owner of the motor vehicle pursuant to the 16
provisions of subdivision 2154(a)(3) of this subchapter; and 17
(3) any related fees, charges, fines, or penalties assessed pursuant to a 18
municipal parking or abandoned motor vehicle ordinance. 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.346
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Sec. 2. 23 V.S.A. § 2154 is amended to read: 1
§ 2154. IDENTIFICATION AND RECLAMATION OF ABANDONED 2
MOTOR VEHICLES 3
(a) The Department shall make a reasonable attempt to locate an owner of 4
an abandoned motor vehicle. 5
* * * 6
(3) If the abandoned motor vehicle has been reported as stolen to an 7
appropriate law enforcement agency or matches the description of a motor 8
vehicle that has been reported as stolen to an appropriate law enforcement 9
agency, the Department shall, within three business days after receipt of the 10
form for certification of abandoned motor vehicle, send notice to the registered 11
owner and lienholder of the vehicle. The notice shall be sent by certified mail, 12
return receipt requested, and shall advise the registered owner of the motor 13
vehicle’s location and a telephone number where additional information about 14
the motor vehicle may be obtained. If the receipt is not returned to the 15
Department within seven business days, the Commissioner shall, by first-class 16
mail, send a second notice. 17
* * * 18
Sec. 3. STOLEN, ABANDONED VEHICLES ; REMOVAL AND 19
STORAGE; COSTS; WORKING GROUP; REPORT 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.346
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(a) Creation. There is created the Costs for Removal and Storage of 1
Abandoned, Stolen Motor Vehicles Working Group to identify funding and a 2
process for reimbursing towing services and municipalities for costs related to 3
the removal and storage of abandoned, stolen motor vehicles. 4
(b) Membership. The Working Group shall be composed of the following 5
members: 6
(1) the Treasurer or designee; 7
(2) the Attorney General or designee; 8
(3) the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or designee; and 9
(4) the Executive Director for the Center for Crime Victim Services or 10
designee. 11
(c) Powers and duties. The Working Group shall study potential sources of 12
funding and processes for reimbursing towing services and municipalities for 13
fees, charges, and other amounts that the towing service or municipality is 14
unable to collect pursuant to the provisions of 23 V.S.A. § 2155(c). 15
(d) Report. On or before November 15, 2025, the Working Group shall 16
submit a written report to the House and Senate Committees on Judiciary and 17
on Transportation with its findings and any recommendations for legislative 18
action. 19
(e) Meetings. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.346
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(1) The Treasurer or designee shall call the first meeting of the Working 1
Group to occur on or before September 1, 2025. 2
(2) The Treasurer or designee shall be the Chair. 3
(3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum. 4
(4) The Working Group shall cease to exist on December 31, 2025. 5
Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATES 6
(a) This section and Sec. 3 of this act shall take effect on passage. 7
(b) Secs. 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 8