Bill > A08858

This bill establishes maximum rates for towing and storing passenger and large vehicles outside of New York City, defining a "passenger car" as a vehicle weighing under 4,500 pounds and a "large vehicle" as one weighing over 4,500 pounds. For passenger cars, towing is capped at $100 plus tolls, with a higher rate of $125 for the first ten miles for disabled vehicles towed from an arterial roadway by an authorized permittee, and $4 for each additional mile. Storage for towed vehicles is limited to $25 per 24-hour period for the first three days, increasing to $27 thereafter. Additional charges for unusual preparation, like winching, are allowed up to $12 per quarter hour, but not for vehicles involved in accidents, and a separate $25 fee is permitted for positioning vehicles for removal by another tow truck. For large vehicles, rates vary by weight, with towing costs ranging from $125 to $300 for the first mile, and additional mileage charges from $5 to $10, with specific rates for using an "under-lift" (a device to lift a vehicle from underneath) and storage fees ranging from $35 to $75 per 24-hour period. These rates do not apply to cities with a population of one million or more, nor to vehicles towed under pre-existing contracts, and any entity violating these provisions faces a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation.