AR HB1897

Restructures the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board from industry-dominated membership to a more diverse nine-member body that includes representatives from law enforcement, trucking, insurance, fire/emergency response, and consumers, with only three members from the towing industry; removes all current board members effective upon passage

Establishes maximum daily storage fees of $60 for noncommercial vehicles and $100 for commercial vehicles, caps administrative fees at $75 and clerical fees at $25, and prohibits storage charges on days the business is unavailable for vehicle release

Creates enhanced penalties for predatory towing and excessive pricing, including Class D felony charges for discriminatory pricing based on customer type, insurance status, or cargo, and automatic license suspensions of 30-60 days with one-year probation for violations

Requires towing companies to clearly display business information on vehicles, post rate schedules publicly, provide itemized billing, accept at least two payment methods, and prominently display complaint process information on a 16"x20" sign and on all invoices

Protects cargo owners by limiting liens to 20% of the towing invoice for cargo release, exempts personal items like medications, documents, and electronics from possessory liens, and requires notice posting on a board-managed website within three business days of receiving a vehicle