Towing Disabled Vehicles

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass the Transportation committee and died there.

Towing Disabled Vehicles

This law sets rules for how police officers and tow truck drivers must provide information to car owners when a vehicle is disabled or impounded due to a crash.

What This Bill Does

• Requires a law enforcement officer to give the driver of an impounded vehicle a list of wrecker operators from which they can choose.
• Allows the driver to call their preferred tow truck company even if the police are involved.
• Mandates that both law enforcement officers and tow truck drivers inform car owners about storage costs, contact information for the towing company, and how to retrieve the vehicle.
• Requires wrecker operator storage facilities to notify vehicle owners by mail, phone, and text message at specific intervals.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers whose cars are disabled or impounded due to a crash.
• Police officers who handle disabled vehicles.
• Tow truck operators and storage facilities.

Terms To Know

Impound

To take away someone's car by law, usually because it is parked illegally or involved in a crime.

Wrecker Operator

A person who operates a tow truck to move disabled vehicles.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass the Transportation committee and died there.
• It is unclear how many people will be affected by this law since it has not been enacted yet.

Official Summary Text

Towing Disabled Vehicles; Requiring a law enforcement officer to provide the driver of a vehicle impounded under certain circumstances with certain information; authorizing the driver of a vehicle disabled under certain circumstances to take certain action; requiring a law enforcement officer and wrecker operator to provide specified information to the driver of a vehicle disabled under certain circumstances, etc.

Current Bill Text

Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 1400

By
Senator Bernard

24-01491-26 20261400__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to towing disabled vehicles; creating
3 s. 323.003, F.S.; requiring a law enforcement officer
4 to provide the driver of a vehicle impounded under
5 certain circumstances with certain information;
6 authorizing the driver of a vehicle disabled under
7 certain circumstances to take certain action;
8 requiring a law enforcement officer and wrecker
9 operator to provide specified information to the
10 driver of a vehicle disabled under certain
11 circumstances; requiring a wrecker operator storage
12 facility to provide certain notification to the owner
13 of the vehicle at specific intervals; providing an
14 effective date.
15
16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18 Section 1. Section 323.003, Florida Statutes, is created to
19 read:
20
323.003

Towing disabled vehicles; notification.—

21
(1)

When a motor vehicle is disabled due to a motor vehicle

22
crash and a wrecker operator is needed to tow the vehicle:

23
(a)

If law enforcement is impounding the vehicle, a law

24
enforcement officer must provide the driver with a list of

25
wrecker operators the driver may choose from; or

26
(b)

The driver may call a wrecker operator of his or her

27
choice.

28
(2)

The law enforcement officer and the wrecker operator

29
shall inform the driver of the vehicle storage charge per day,

30
the telephone number and e-mail address of the wrecker operator

31
storage facility to which the vehicle is being towed, and the

32
process for the owner to retrieve the vehicle.

33
(3)

The wrecker operator storage facility shall notify the

34
owner of the vehicle in writing by certified mail and by

35
telephone and text message 14 business days, 30 business days,

36
and 45 business days after the vehicle arrives at the facility

37
stating that the vehicle is in storage and accruing daily

38
storage charges.

39 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.