FL H0133

Counties and municipalities are prohibited from enacting ordinances or rules that impose fees or charges on authorized wrecker operators or towing businesses for towing, impounding, or storing vehicles or vessels, though they may still levy reasonable business taxes and collect administrative fees (capped at 25% of the maximum towing rate) from registered owners when vehicles are towed from public property.

Local governments are authorized to establish maximum rates for towing or immobilizing vessels (in addition to vehicles) on private property and for the removal and storage of vessels from accident scenes or when the owner is incapacitated or unavailable.

Charter counties with at least 90% of the population in incorporated municipalities, at least 38 incorporated municipalities as of January 1, 2020, or that had a towing licensing program in effect on January 1, 2020, are exempted from the fee prohibition but may not impose new fees on towing businesses beyond those already in effect as of that date.

The required notice of sale for unclaimed towed vehicles or vessels must be sent at least 30 days (increased from 15 days) before the sale, and towing lien holders may now include reasonable administrative fees imposed by a county or municipality as part of the lien on a vehicle or vessel.

Tow-away zone signage requirements are revised, including increasing the allowable posting distance from 5 feet to 10 feet from the road, and the compliance standard for towing from private property is changed from "strict" to "substantial" compliance. The act took effect October 1, 2020.