Moran Gets Unanimous Support for Anti-Predatory Towing Advancement

By a unanimous vote this week, the U.S. House of Representatives added to a sweeping transportation bill an amendment sponsored co-sponsored by Northern Virginia Rep. Jim Moran aimed at reigning in "predatory towing" operators.

The amendment is attached to H.R. 3, the six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill. It gives states the right to require tow truck operators receive written permission from a property owner or owner's agent before making a non-consensual tow off the owner's property.

It also permits states to require property owners or owner's agent requesting a tow be present at the time the offending vehicle is towed.

"The amendment does not solve all the problems related to predatory towing operators, but it is a step in the right direction. Northern Virginians are well aware of the actions taken by unscrupulous towing operators in the region," Rep. Moran said. "States will soon have two new options to protect the consumer from abusive towing at their disposal."

Rep. Chris Cox (R-Calif.) co-sponsored the amendment with Moran.