Act 23 takes effect in Philly Sept. 1st, 2024

[TowForce]

New law requires Philly tow truck drivers to provide photographic evidence of parking violations

 

The PPA and its contractors must take pictures of the infractions and provide them to car owners who wish to fight their fees.

 

Tow truck drivers must now document parking violations before they haul away cars in Philadelphia.

 

Under Act 43, the Philadelphia Parking Authority and its agents are required to take photographs of infractions before towing vehicles. The photos must include the car's license plate and posted signs, if there are any, warning of illegal parking. These photos will be available to the vehicle owner free of charge, upon request.

 

Though the legislation is a Pennsylvania law that applies to any city with a population of 1 million or more, Philadelphia is the only city in the state that qualifies. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed Act 43 into law Monday.

 

Pennsylvania state Rep. Jose Giral, the Philadelphia Democrat who sponsored the bill, argued that it will help owners who believe their cars were towed without cause fight their fees. The PPA charges $175 to haul most vehicles, plus storage fees that climb every day the car is unclaimed.

 

"I am pleased to see this commonsense measure signed into law," Giral said in a statement. "This will benefit everyone involved, the courts, the drivers and towing companies, and ensure greater accountability and transparency in our city."

 

The new law will take effect in 60 days.

 

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[TowForce]

Gov. Shapiro signs Philly tow truck driver accountability bill into law

 

Tow truck operators in Philadelphia will soon be required to provide photographic evidence of a violation if they intend to tow a vehicle

 

In an effort to provide more accountability to tow truck drivers throughout the City of Philadelphia, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, on Monday, signed a bill, that will require them to provide photograph evidence of violations, into law.

 

Known as Act 43, the bill -- sponsored by Pa. State Rep. Jose Giral, D-Phila. -- will require tow truck drivers to provide photographic evidence of a violation before they can tow or remove a vehicle.

 

“I am pleased to see this commonsense measure signed into law,” Giral said in a statement shortly after the bill was signed into law.. “This will benefit everyone involved, the courts, drivers and towing companies, and will ensure greater accountability and transparency in our city.”

 

According to the wording of the legislation, anytime a vehicle is set to be towed, the tow truck driver must take photographic evidence that shows the vehicle's license plate, proof that a violation has occurred and any posted sign or information explaining that stopping, standing or parking are prohibited in that location.

 

A copy of the photographic evidence would then provided to the owner of the vehicle, for free, when they recover the towed vehicle.

 

Giral said that this provision will now make it easier for those who have their vehicle towed to fight any towing that might have been done unreasonably and avoid any associated towing fees.

 

The bill is set to take effect 60 days after the governor's signature.

 

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[TowForce]