SB201 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg J. Reed

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Motor vehicles, nonconsensual towing of, Law Enforcement Agency authorized to regulate, service charge dispute resolution process, adoption of rules, civil penalties

Summary

SB201 allows ALEA to regulate nonconsensual towing of commercial vehicles, create a fee dispute process, and authorize penalties for rule violations.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to adopt rules regulating nonconsensual towing directed by officers, including how rates are set and who assigns towing services. It also establishes that vehicle owners or their designees can access their cargo and contents after towing, with a potential $2,000 security deposit if the trailer or tractor is retrieved from storage, and that liens remain possible. Additionally, it creates a formal service charge dispute process with defined timelines and review steps, and authorizes disciplinary actions (up to $500 per violation) for rule violations, with an appeal process under state law.

Who It Affects

• Commercial motor vehicle owners or their designees, who gain a formal dispute process for towing charges, access to their vehicle and contents, and potential protections around storage charges.
• Towing and recovery services, and Alabama law enforcement personnel (troopers and the trooper commander), who must follow new rules on compensation, assignments, rate approvals, dispute handling, and potential penalties for violations.

Key Provisions

• ALEA must adopt rules governing nonconsensual towing for commercial motor vehicles, with rates deemed reasonable and assignments made by the trooper commander or designee.
• The agency may not receive compensation from towing services; troopers may not be compensated, hold financial interest, or recommend specific services.
• Towing services must allow vehicle owners or designees to access the vehicle and retrieve freight/contents; if a trailer or tractor is retrieved from storage, the owner pays up to a $2,000 security deposit; liens on the vehicle are not eliminated by these rules.
• A service charge dispute resolution process is established with a 3-business-day filing window for complaints, storage charges suspended during review, and a trooper-based review with decisions within three business days.
• Disciplinary actions for rule violations can include fines up to $500 per violation, with appeals through the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.
• Rules must be adopted no later than November 1, 2017, and the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles