Relating To Towing Companies.
SB215 revises Hawaii’s laws governing towing of vehicles left unattended on private or public property. The bill changes the fee structure for towing companies, replacing existing capped amounts with new fee amounts to be set in the statute, while retaining rules for mileage charges, storage fees, difficult-hookup surcharges, and limited additional charges for overturned vehicles. It also preserves and clarifies notice requirements to vehicle owners and registered owners, payment options, release of a vehicle if the owner appears before the tow is completed, and procedures for abandoned vehicles, sale, and distribution of sale proceeds.
The bill also adds a statewide prohibition on towing or parking management companies installing vehicle immobilization devices, such as wheel boots. In counties with populations greater than 500,000, towing companies must offer service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including release of stored vehicles to insurers, owners, or designated representatives. The measure is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2050, and it does not disturb rights, duties, penalties, or proceedings that arose before that date.
SB215 amends section 290-11 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which regulates towing from private and public property and the disposition of abandoned vehicles. It affects towing companies, property owners, vehicle owners, insurers, and county governments by updating fee authority, payment methods, notice and release procedures, and enforcement consequences. It also creates a new statewide ban on immobilization devices and limits the bill’s application in counties that have adopted their own towing ordinances.
The available voting history suggests the bill was received favorably in committee, passing the Senate Transportation and Culture and the Arts Committee 4-0 with amendments. The bill’s overall tone appears regulatory rather than punitive, focusing on consumer protections, clearer towing procedures, and operational requirements for towing companies. No committee transcript is available, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the unanimous committee vote indicates broad support at that stage.
The main points of potential contention are the revised towing fees, the requirement that towing companies accept cash, credit, and debit cards without steering customers to an ATM, and the prohibition on immobilization devices, all of which may be viewed as limiting towing-company revenue or operational flexibility. The 24/7 service requirement in counties with populations over 500,000 could also be burdensome for towing operators. On the other hand, the bill appears designed to protect vehicle owners from excessive charges, surprise fees, and restrictive recovery practices, so consumer advocates and property owners may support it while towing and parking management businesses may object to the added restrictions.