Towing Companies Must Now Give 24-Hour Notice Before Moving Vehicles In Colorado

About Colorado's New "Towing Bill of Rights"

The state's new law affecting traditional protocol when it comes to towing vehicles is doing so in a big way.

“This law basically is a complete overhaul of towing in Colorado," Rep. Naquetta Ricks (D) who co-sponsored the bill signed into law said. 

"Now, they do have to prove that you are violating the law," Ricks said.

Under the new law, before tow companies remove any car, they are now required to take pictures of the vehicle in question.

Much like everything else, however, there are exceptions:

As per the new law, tow truck companies are not required to give prior notice to tow a car in the following cases:

• The car owner has two previous notices for parking illegally
• The car is being repossessed
• The tow is ordered by a court or police officer
• A car blocking a driveway or roadway
• A car illegally parked in a handicapped space
• A car blocking a fire zone
• A car parked in someone's reserved, paid parking space
• A car parked without a resident pass in a lot requiring passes

Truck companies are also now required to post signage outside their businesses listing the maximum rate for a tow under the new law.

Tow Companies React To New 24-Hour Law

While there are many people in support of this new law, there are (as you can imagine) many others who are not - for multiple reasons.

For starters, Jonathan Collins, president of Collins Towing said these new laws could potentially impact those who pay for their parking spots at their respective residences.

Under the new law, tow yards will be required to return a car if the vehicle owner can pay 15% of the fees, which is capped at $60. Even though they'll still have to still pay back the rest of the owed money, they won't have to do so immediately.