Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1400
       
       
        
       By Senator Bernard
       
       
       
       
       
       24-01491-26                                           20261400__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to towing disabled vehicles; creating
    3         s. 323.003, F.S.; requiring a law enforcement officer
    4         to provide the driver of a vehicle impounded under
    5         certain circumstances with certain information;
    6         authorizing the driver of a vehicle disabled under
    7         certain circumstances to take certain action;
    8         requiring a law enforcement officer and wrecker
    9         operator to provide specified information to the
   10         driver of a vehicle disabled under certain
   11         circumstances; requiring a wrecker operator storage
   12         facility to provide certain notification to the owner
   13         of the vehicle at specific intervals; providing an
   14         effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Section 323.003, Florida Statutes, is created to
   19  read:
   20         323.003 Towing disabled vehicles; notification.—
   21         (1) When a motor vehicle is disabled due to a motor vehicle
   22  crash and a wrecker operator is needed to tow the vehicle:
   23         (a) If law enforcement is impounding the vehicle, a law
   24  enforcement officer must provide the driver with a list of
   25  wrecker operators the driver may choose from; or
   26         (b) The driver may call a wrecker operator of his or her
   27  choice.
   28         (2) The law enforcement officer and the wrecker operator
   29  shall inform the driver of the vehicle storage charge per day,
   30  the telephone number and e-mail address of the wrecker operator
   31  storage facility to which the vehicle is being towed, and the
   32  process for the owner to retrieve the vehicle.
   33         (3) The wrecker operator storage facility shall notify the
   34  owner of the vehicle in writing by certified mail and by
   35  telephone and text message 14 business days, 30 business days,
   36  and 45 business days after the vehicle arrives at the facility
   37  stating that the vehicle is in storage and accruing daily
   38  storage charges.
   39         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.