Hartford, CT — A proposed bill that could change Connecticut’s towing industry drew sharp debate Monday, March 10, as landlords, tow truck operators, and local officials testified before the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee.
The bill proposes stricter regulations on vehicle sales, notification requirements, and payment processes, prompting a clash between property rights advocates and those pushing for consumer protections.
“The 24-hour notice before I can remove cars from a parking lot would be a big problem,” said John Souza, President of the Connecticut Coalition of Property Owners. “In a lot of cases 24-hours is going to turn into three or four days.”
The proposal would require tow companies to issue a written notice at least 24 hours before removing a vehicle from a residential parking facility.
Souza argued that such a delay would make it harder to enforce parking rules and could escalate conflicts.
“I’m afraid the other things it’s going to cause is people fighting, tenants fighting with each other, tenants fighting with the trespasser,” he said.
Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett countered that increased regulation is necessary to curb predatory towing.
“What we know is that a lot of, most of, the towing companies are working ethically and that their practices are fair,” she said. “There are some that are not and regulations help to curtail the behaviors.”
The bill also seeks to extend the period before a towed vehicle can be sold.
Under current law, tow companies may sell vehicles worth $1,500 or less after 15 days. The proposed legislation would extend that waiting period to 30 days and require a 60-day hold for vehicles exceeding that value.
“The people walk away from the cars, never call you, never do anything,” said Tim Vibert, President of the Connecticut State Tow Association. “We have some people that do call and maybe they don’t have the money and usually there’s remedy for that.”
Garrett emphasized that not all towed vehicles are abandoned.
“I’ve gotten several complaints from people who live in some apartment complexes where the landlords are changing parking rules and towing people,” she said.
The committee will continue reviewing the bill before determining the next steps in the legislative process.
