Bill > SB263

This bill amends the Louisiana Towing and Storage Act to clarify procedures for establishing vehicle ownership and state of origin, and to outline how stored vehicles and personal property can be surrendered. It requires towing and storage facility owners to make a good faith effort within five business days to determine a vehicle's state of registration and ownership by checking databases, vehicle tags, and any available documentation, and mandates that failure to do so will prevent the imposition of storage charges. The bill also shortens the notification period for owners and lienholders of stored vehicles from ten to seven business days after receiving information from the department or its authorized agent, and specifies the required contents of this notice, including vehicle details, charges, and the right to an administrative hearing. Furthermore, it details acceptable documents for proving interest in a vehicle, such as titles, loan contracts, or agency agreements, and allows for the surrender of a vehicle to a lienholder after payment of all towing and storage charges and a hold harmless agreement. The bill also mandates that towing-storage operators provide an itemized invoice upon surrender and permit owners, lienholders, or their agents to inspect the vehicle and retrieve personal property not attached to the vehicle within one hour of presenting proper documentation during normal business hours, with specific provisions for rental vehicles.