SENATE DOCKET, NO. 615        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2085

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William N. Brownsberger

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to towing protections.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 615        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2085

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2606 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to towing protections.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 6B of Chapter 159B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the third paragraph the following words: “No other charges may be assessed for the towing or storage of a vehicle.”;

and further by inserting after the third paragraph the following two paragraphs:- 

“The motor vehicle storage facility shall allow the owner of a car in its possession the ability to remove any possessions that are not part of the car and/or physically attached to it from said car if the individual is unable to pay the tow and storage fee in full.

The motor vehicle storage facility shall have a credit card reader on premises and shall accept credit or debit card payments in addition to cash payments for vehicle removal and storage charges.”.

SECTION 2. Section 120D of Chapter 266 of the General Laws is hereby amended in the first paragraph by inserting after the words:- “posted notice” the following words:- “including current removal and storage fees as defined by the department”;

and further in the first paragraph by striking the following words:- “unless otherwise specified by such chief of police or police commissioner”;

and further in the first paragraph by inserting after the words:- “shall include” the following words:- “a photograph of the vehicle parking or standing on the private way”;

and further by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:- “Any person who removes a motor vehicle shall have a credit card reader within the tow vehicle being operated and shall accept credit or debit card payments in addition to cash payments for vehicle removal and storage charges.”;

and further by inserting at the end of the sixth paragraph the following words:- “Upon payment, the person lawfully holding a vehicle removed or released before the towing is completed shall provide a receipt itemized by the removal and storage charges. The receipt should also include current removal and storage fees as defined by the department.”;

and further in the seventh paragraph by striking the following words:- “may, at his discretion” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- “shall”.