SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1400

Towing Disabled Vehicles
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SPONSOR
Bernard
FILED BY
Mack Bernard — District 24, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Transportation

Filed under Transportation.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Towing Disabled Vehicles; Requiring a law enforcement officer to provide the driver of a vehicle impounded under certain circumstances with certain information; authorizing the driver of a vehicle disabled under certain circumstances to take certain action; requiring a law enforcement officer and wrecker operator to provide specified information to the driver of a vehicle disabled under certain circumstances, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires disclosure of storage fees when towing crashed vehicles.

A driver whose vehicle is disabled in a crash gets a role in picking the wrecker: a list of options from the officer if the vehicle is being impounded, or the driver's own pick otherwise.

The officer and the wrecker operator must disclose the daily storage rate, the storage lot's phone number and email, and how the owner can retrieve the vehicle.

If the vehicle stays at the storage facility, state law now requires written, phone, and text notice to the owner at 14, 30, and 45 business days, each time flagging that storage charges keep accruing.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Requires upfront disclosure of storage fees and contact information majors. 323.003

AIThe officer and the wrecker operator must tell the driver the per-day storage charge, the storage facility's phone number and email address, and how the owner can retrieve the vehicle.

“the vehicle storage charge per day, the telephone number and e-mail address of the wrecker operator storage facility” bill text, line 29 →
§ 2 Requires storage facilities to notify owners three times as fees accrue majors. 323.003

AIThe storage facility must notify the vehicle's owner in writing by certified mail, by phone, and by text message at 14, 30, and 45 business days after the vehicle arrives, each time stating that it remains in storage and is accruing daily charges.

“notify the owner of the vehicle in writing by certified mail and by telephone and text message 14 business days” bill text, line 33 →
§ 3 Gives crash victims a role in choosing their wrecker moderates. 323.003

AIIf law enforcement is impounding the vehicle, the officer must give the driver a list of wrecker operators to choose from; if it is not being impounded, the driver may call a wrecker operator of their own choice.

“a law enforcement officer must provide the driver with a list of wrecker operators the driver may choose from” bill text, line 23 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Transportation
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/16/2026
Referred to Transportation; Community Affairs; Rules
1/8/2026
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 323.003
+171 / −0