CT HB05465

DMV Commissioner must establish a publicly accessible electronic portal by October 1, 2027, providing 24/7 information on towed vehicles including location, fees, and redemption hours, with wrecker services required to submit vehicle information within 2 hours of towing

Establishes a flat surcharge for police-ordered towing of electric vehicles effective January 1, 2029, with the Police-Ordered Towing Council required to submit a proposed addendum addressing EV towing risks by January 1, 2027

Expands the Police-Ordered Towing Council membership to include a consumer advocate and commissioners from Transportation, Emergency Services, and Energy/Environmental Protection, with a subcommittee to review complaints about police-ordered towing

Creates a new Towing Advisory Council effective July 1, 2026, to advise on nonconsensual towing practices and evaluate modernizing vehicle auctions, including feasibility of online or third-party auctions

Requires wrecker services participating in state or municipal rotational towing systems to complete Department of Transportation traffic incident management training within one year of hire, and mandates inclusion of consumer bill of rights with itemized towing bills in all tow notices