Bill > HB449

This bill expands regulations on nonconsensual towing, meaning towing a vehicle without the owner's consent, to include private motor vehicles in addition to commercial motor vehicles. It renames the "Commercial Vehicle Towing Advisory Committee" to the "Vehicle Towing Advisory Committee" and keeps its administration within the Department of Public Safety's Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division. The bill clarifies definitions for "private motor vehicle" and "commercial vehicle," and mandates that the advisory committee establish rules and standards for towing services, including statewide maximum towing and storage rates, and a revised Towing Service Standard Manual by January 1, 2027, which will cover invoicing, complaint procedures, and disciplinary actions. It also requires towing services to document towed vehicles with photographs and ensures owners can access their vehicles to retrieve personal property. Furthermore, the bill specifies that nonconsensual tows from private property require written permission from the property owner, who must have visible signage indicating towing policies, and that all towed vehicles must be stored within Mississippi. The bill also prohibits certain practices, such as law enforcement officers receiving incentives for selecting specific towing services and towing companies employing "spotters" to report illegally parked vehicles for towing.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0449.xml