{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1217.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1217.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1217.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1217.html"}],"law_id":60919,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60919,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1217","catch_line":"Local governing body may regulate certain towing","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 46-5.1; 1956, c. 114; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7\u00a7 46.1-3, 46.1-3.02; 1960, cc. 75, 204; 1966, c. 297; 1972, c. 267; 1974, c. 142; 1977, c. 666; 1980, c. 551; 1978, c. 282; 1984, cc. 64, 190, 381; 1985, c. 91; 1988, c. 520; 1989, c. 727; 1993, c. 405; 1999, c. 78; 2006, cc. 874, 891; 2008, cc. 470, 647; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2019, c. 630.","full_text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town by ordinance may regulate services rendered pursuant to police towing requests by any business engaged in the towing or storage of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles. The ordinance may include delineation of service areas for towing services, the limitation of the number of persons engaged in towing services in any area, including the creation of one or more exclusive service areas, and the specification of equipment to be used for providing towing service. The governing body of any county, city, or town may contract for services rendered pursuant to a police towing request with one or more businesses engaged in the towing or storage of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles. The contract may specify the fees or charges to be paid by the owner or operator of a towed vehicle to the person undertaking its towing or storage and may prescribe the geographical area to be served by each person providing towing services. The county, city, or town may establish criteria for eligibility of persons to enter into towing services contracts and, in its discretion, may itself provide exclusive towing and storage service for police-requested towing of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Department of State Police from entering into a memorandum of understanding with a county, city, or town to provide for towing services.\n\t\tPrior to adopting an ordinance or entering into a contract pursuant to this section, the local governing body shall appoint an advisory board to advise the governing body with regard to the appropriate provisions of the ordinance or terms of the contract. The advisory board shall include representatives of local law-enforcement agencies, towing and recovery operators, and the general public.\n\t\t“Police-requested towing” or “police towing request,” as used in this section, includes all requests made by a law-enforcement officer of the county, city, or town pursuant to this article or Article 2 (\u00a7 46.2-1209 et seq.) and towing requests made by a law-enforcement officer of the county, city, or town at the request of the owner or operator of an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle, when no specific service provider is requested by such owner or operator.\n\t\tIf an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle is located so as to impede the free flow of traffic on a highway declared by resolution of the Commonwealth Transportation Board to be a portion of the interstate highway system and a law-enforcement officer determines, in his discretion, that the business or businesses authorized to undertake the towing or storage of the vehicle pursuant to an ordinance or contract adopted pursuant to this section cannot respond in a timely manner, the law-enforcement officer may request towing or storage service from a towing or storage business other than those authorized by such ordinance or contract.\n\t\tIf an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle is towed as the result of a (i) police towing request or (ii) towing request made by a law-enforcement officer employed by the Department of State Police, the owner or person having control of the business or property to which the vehicle is towed shall allow the owner of the vehicle or any other towing and recovery business, upon presentation of a written request therefor from the owner of the vehicle, to have access to the vehicle for the purpose of inspecting or towing the vehicle to another location for the purpose of repair, storage, or disposal. For the purpose of this section, “owner of the vehicle” means a person who (a) has vested ownership, dominion, or title to the vehicle; (b) is the authorized agent of the owner as defined in clause (a); or (c) is an employee, agent, or representative of an insurance company representing any party involved in a collision that resulted in a (1) police-requested tow or (2) towing request made by a law-enforcement officer employed by the Department of State Police who represents in writing that the insurance company has obtained the oral or written consent of the title owner or his agent or the lessee of the vehicle to obtain possession of the vehicle. It shall be unlawful for any towing and recovery business to refuse to release a vehicle to the owner as defined in this section upon tender of full payment for all lawful charges by cash, insurance company check, certified check, money order, at least one of two commonly used, nationally recognized credit cards, or additional methods of payment approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Thereafter, if a towing and recovery business refuses to release the vehicle, future charges related to storage or handling of the vehicle by such towing and recovery business shall be suspended and no longer payable.\n\t\tThe vehicle owner who has vested ownership, dominion, or title to the vehicle shall indemnify and hold harmless the towing and recovery operator from any and all liability for releasing the vehicle to any vehicle owner as defined in this section for inspecting or towing the vehicle to another location for the purpose of repair, storage, or disposal.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":222826,"text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town by ordinance may regulate services rendered pursuant to police towing requests by any business engaged in the towing or storage of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles. The ordinance may include delineation of service areas for towing services, the limitation of the number of persons engaged in towing services in any area, including the creation of one or more exclusive service areas, and the specification of equipment to be used for providing towing service. The governing body of any county, city, or town may contract for services rendered pursuant to a police towing request with one or more businesses engaged in the towing or storage of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles. The contract may specify the fees or charges to be paid by the owner or operator of a towed vehicle to the person undertaking its towing or storage and may prescribe the geographical area to be served by each person providing towing services. The county, city, or town may establish criteria for eligibility of persons to enter into towing services contracts and, in its discretion, may itself provide exclusive towing and storage service for police-requested towing of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Department of State Police from entering into a memorandum of understanding with a county, city, or town to provide for towing services.\n\t\tPrior to adopting an ordinance or entering into a contract pursuant to this section, the local governing body shall appoint an advisory board to advise the governing body with regard to the appropriate provisions of the ordinance or terms of the contract. The advisory board shall include representatives of local law-enforcement agencies, towing and recovery operators, and the general public.\n\t\t“Police-requested towing” or “police towing request,” as used in this section, includes all requests made by a law-enforcement officer of the county, city, or town pursuant to this article or Article 2 (\u00a7 46.2-1209 et seq.) and towing requests made by a law-enforcement officer of the county, city, or town at the request of the owner or operator of an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle, when no specific service provider is requested by such owner or operator.\n\t\tIf an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle is located so as to impede the free flow of traffic on a highway declared by resolution of the Commonwealth Transportation Board to be a portion of the interstate highway system and a law-enforcement officer determines, in his discretion, that the business or businesses authorized to undertake the towing or storage of the vehicle pursuant to an ordinance or contract adopted pursuant to this section cannot respond in a timely manner, the law-enforcement officer may request towing or storage service from a towing or storage business other than those authorized by such ordinance or contract.\n\t\tIf an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle is towed as the result of a (i) police towing request or (ii) towing request made by a law-enforcement officer employed by the Department of State Police, the owner or person having control of the business or property to which the vehicle is towed shall allow the owner of the vehicle or any other towing and recovery business, upon presentation of a written request therefor from the owner of the vehicle, to have access to the vehicle for the purpose of inspecting or towing the vehicle to another location for the purpose of repair, storage, or disposal. For the purpose of this section, “owner of the vehicle” means a person who (a) has vested ownership, dominion, or title to the vehicle; (b) is the authorized agent of the owner as defined in clause (a); or (c) is an employee, agent, or representative of an insurance company representing any party involved in a collision that resulted in a (1) police-requested tow or (2) towing request made by a law-enforcement officer employed by the Department of State Police who represents in writing that the insurance company has obtained the oral or written consent of the title owner or his agent or the lessee of the vehicle to obtain possession of the vehicle. It shall be unlawful for any towing and recovery business to refuse to release a vehicle to the owner as defined in this section upon tender of full payment for all lawful charges by cash, insurance company check, certified check, money order, at least one of two commonly used, nationally recognized credit cards, or additional methods of payment approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Thereafter, if a towing and recovery business refuses to release the vehicle, future charges related to storage or handling of the vehicle by such towing and recovery business shall be suspended and no longer payable.\n\t\tThe vehicle owner who has vested ownership, dominion, or title to the vehicle shall indemnify and hold harmless the towing and recovery operator from any and all liability for releasing the vehicle to any vehicle owner as defined in this section for inspecting or towing the vehicle to another location for the purpose of repair, storage, or disposal.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13249,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trespassing Vehicles, Parking, and Towing","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13248,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","permalink":{"id":229801,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13249,"identifier":"3","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13248,"edition_id":1,"name":"Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","permalink":{"id":229707,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13248,"identifier":"12","token":"46.2\/III\/12","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12827,"edition_id":1,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12827,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":57036,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1216","catch_line":"Removal or immobilization of motor vehicles, vehicles, and trailers against which there are outstanding parking violations; ordinances","url":"\/46.2-1216\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1216","metadata":false},{"id":60919,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1217","catch_line":"Local governing body may regulate certain towing","url":"\/46.2-1217\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1217","metadata":false},{"id":69274,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1217.1","catch_line":"Towing of certain large vehicles; civil penalty","url":"\/46.2-1217.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1217.1","metadata":false},{"id":74346,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1218","catch_line":"Reports by persons in charge of garages, parking places, etc.; unclaimed vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1218\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1218","metadata":false},{"id":56179,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1219","catch_line":"Regulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on certain parking lots","url":"\/46.2-1219\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1219","metadata":false},{"id":80549,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1219.1","catch_line":"Regulation or prohibition of vehicular traffic on certain privately owned public parking areas and driveways; penalties","url":"\/46.2-1219.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1219.1","metadata":false},{"id":77831,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1219.2","catch_line":"Parking of vehicles in commuter parking lots owned by the Virginia Department of Transportation","url":"\/46.2-1219.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1219.2","metadata":false},{"id":54248,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1219.3","catch_line":"Parking of vehicles in parking spaces reserved for charging electric vehicles; civil penalties","url":"\/46.2-1219.3\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1219.3","metadata":false},{"id":59917,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1220","catch_line":"Parking, stopping, and standing regulations in counties, cities, or towns; parking meters; presumption as to violation of ordinances; penalty","url":"\/46.2-1220\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1220","metadata":false},{"id":74268,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1221","catch_line":"Authority of county to regulate parking on county-owned or leased property or on county highways; parking meters; presumption as to violation of ordinances","url":"\/46.2-1221\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1221","metadata":false},{"id":55577,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1222","catch_line":"Regulation of parking on secondary highways by certain counties","url":"\/46.2-1222\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1222","metadata":false},{"id":77619,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1222.1","catch_line":"Regulation or prohibition of parking of certain vehicles in certain counties and towns","url":"\/46.2-1222.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1222.1","metadata":false},{"id":68697,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1222.2","catch_line":"Local ordinances prohibiting parking of certain vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1222.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1222.2","metadata":false},{"id":59842,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1223","catch_line":"Authority of Commissioner to regulate parking on certain parts of primary state highway system","url":"\/46.2-1223\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1223","metadata":false},{"id":61279,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1224","catch_line":"County ordinances prohibiting certain parking in streets and highways","url":"\/46.2-1224\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1224","metadata":false},{"id":78821,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1224.1","catch_line":"Local ordinances regulating certain parking; penalty","url":"\/46.2-1224.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1224.1","metadata":false},{"id":74507,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1225","catch_line":"Enforcement provisions in city or county parking ordinances","url":"\/46.2-1225\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1225","metadata":false},{"id":82170,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1226","catch_line":"Enforcement of regulations governing parking in Capitol Square","url":"\/46.2-1226\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1226","metadata":false},{"id":55537,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1227","catch_line":"Enforcement of state regulations governing parking on primary and secondary highways","url":"\/46.2-1227\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1227","metadata":false},{"id":76331,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1228","catch_line":"Enforcement of parking regulations of boards of visitors of educational institutions","url":"\/46.2-1228\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1228","metadata":false},{"id":57912,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1229","catch_line":"Enforcement of parking regulations of State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","url":"\/46.2-1229\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1229","metadata":false},{"id":69298,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1230","catch_line":"Authority of counties, cities, and towns to issue parking permits","url":"\/46.2-1230\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1230","metadata":false},{"id":68405,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1231","catch_line":"Ticketing, removal, or immobilization of trespassing vehicles by owner or operator of parking or other lot or building; charges","url":"\/46.2-1231\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1231","metadata":false},{"id":86926,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1231.1","catch_line":"Immunity from liability for certain towing","url":"\/46.2-1231.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1231.1","metadata":false},{"id":81284,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1231.2","catch_line":"Attorney fees and costs; towing and recovery operators","url":"\/46.2-1231.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1231.2","metadata":false},{"id":69434,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1232","catch_line":"Localities may regulate removal or immobilization of trespassing vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1232\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1232","metadata":false},{"id":77977,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1233","catch_line":"Localities may regulate towing fees","url":"\/46.2-1233\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1233","metadata":false},{"id":57172,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1233.1","catch_line":"Limitation on charges for towing and storage of certain vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1233.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1233.1","metadata":false},{"id":64627,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1233.2","catch_line":"Advisory board","url":"\/46.2-1233.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1233.2","metadata":false},{"id":57835,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1233.3","catch_line":"Improper towing; penalty","url":"\/46.2-1233.3\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1233.3","metadata":false},{"id":65934,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1234","catch_line":"Liability of persons furnishing free parking accommodations as to motor vehicles and property left therein","url":"\/46.2-1234\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1234","metadata":false},{"id":58978,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1235","catch_line":"Authority of Chesterfield County law-enforcement officers to issue parking tickets","url":"\/46.2-1235\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1235","metadata":false},{"id":81990,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1236","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-1236\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1236","metadata":false},{"id":66887,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1237","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-1237\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1237","metadata":false},{"id":66758,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1238","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-1238\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1238","metadata":false},{"id":66211,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1239","catch_line":"Parking in certain locations; penalty","url":"\/46.2-1239\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1239","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57036,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1216","catch_line":"Removal or immobilization of motor vehicles, vehicles, and trailers against which there are outstanding parking violations; ordinances","url":"\/46.2-1216\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1216","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69274,"structure_id":13249,"section_number":"46.2-1217.1","catch_line":"Towing of certain large vehicles; civil penalty","url":"\/46.2-1217.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1217.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1217\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 19 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1956, chapter 114; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1960, chapters 75 and 204; in 1966, chapter 297; in 1972, chapter 267; in 1974, chapter 142; in 1977, chapter 666; in 1980, chapter 551; in 1978, chapter 282; in 1984, chapters 64, 190, and 381; in 1985, chapter 91; in 1988, chapter 520; in 1989, chapter 727; in 1993, chapter 405; in 1999, chapter 78<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 874<\/a> and 891<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 470<\/a> and 647<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 803<\/a> and 835<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 630<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":76721,"section_number":"2.2-517","catch_line":"Division of Consumer Counsel created; duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-517\/"},{"id":84528,"section_number":"46.2-117","catch_line":"Revocation and suspension of registration of tow truck driver; notice and hearing; assessment of costs","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-117\/"},{"id":82474,"section_number":"46.2-118","catch_line":"Prohibited acts by tow truck drivers and towing and recovery operators","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-118\/"},{"id":84696,"section_number":"46.2-119","catch_line":"Complaints against tow truck drivers or towing and recovery operators; enforcement by the Office of the Attorney General","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-119\/"},{"id":79942,"section_number":"46.2-1215","catch_line":"Leaving vehicles on private property prohibited; authority of counties, cities, and towns to provide for removal and disposition; notice of disposition","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1215\/"},{"id":81284,"section_number":"46.2-1231.2","catch_line":"Attorney fees and costs; towing and recovery operators","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1231.2\/"},{"id":57835,"section_number":"46.2-1233.3","catch_line":"Improper towing; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1233.3\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":74116,"section_number":"46.2-1209","catch_line":"Unattended or immobile vehicles, generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1209\/"}],"permalink":{"id":229807,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60919,"identifier":"46.2-1217","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1217","url":"\/46.2-1217\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1217\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/3\/46.2-1217","dublin_core":{"Title":"Local governing body may regulate certain towing","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1217","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The governing body<\/span> of any county, city, or town by ordinance<\/span> may regulate services rendered pursuant to police towing requests by any business engaged in the towing or storage of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles<\/span>. The ordinance<\/span> may include delineation of service areas for towing services, the limitation of the number of persons engaged in towing services in any area, including the creation of one or more exclusive service areas, and the specification of equipment to be used for providing towing service. The governing body<\/span> of any county, city, or town may contract<\/span> for services rendered pursuant to a police towing request with one or more businesses engaged in the towing or storage of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles<\/span>. The contract<\/span> may specify the fees or charges to be paid by the owner or operator of a towed vehicle to the person undertaking its towing or storage and may prescribe the geographical area to be served by each person providing towing services. The county, city, or town may establish criteria for eligibility of persons to enter into towing services contracts<\/span> and, in its discretion, may itself provide exclusive towing and storage service for police-requested towing<\/span> of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles<\/span>. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Department<\/span> of State Police from entering into a memorandum<\/span> of understanding with a county, city, or town to provide for towing services.\n\t\tPrior to adopting an ordinance<\/span> or entering into a contract<\/span> pursuant to this section, the local governing body<\/span> shall appoint an advisory board to advise the governing body<\/span> with regard to the appropriate provisions of the ordinance<\/span> or terms of the contract<\/span>. The advisory board shall include representatives of local law<\/span>-enforcement agencies, towing and recovery operators<\/span>, and the general public.\n\t\t“Police-requested towing<\/span>” or “police towing request,” as used in this section, includes all requests made by a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> of the county, city, or town pursuant to this article or Article 2 (\u00a7 46.2-1209<\/a> et seq.) and towing requests made by a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> of the county, city, or town at the request of the owner or operator of an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle, when no specific service provider is requested by such owner or operator.\n\t\tIf an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle is located so as to impede the free flow of traffic on a highway<\/span> declared by resolution of the Commonwealth Transportation Board to be a portion of the interstate highway<\/span> system and a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> determines, in his discretion, that the business or businesses authorized to undertake the towing or storage of the vehicle pursuant to an ordinance<\/span> or contract<\/span> adopted pursuant to this section cannot respond in a timely manner, the law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> may request towing or storage service from a towing or storage business other than those authorized by such ordinance<\/span> or contract<\/span>.\n\t\tIf an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle is towed as the result of a (i) police towing request or (ii) towing request made by a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> employed by the Department<\/span> of State Police, the owner or person having control of the business or property to which the vehicle is towed shall allow the owner of the vehicle<\/span> or any other towing and recovery business, upon presentation of a written request therefor from the owner of the vehicle<\/span>, to have access to the vehicle for the purpose of inspecting or towing the vehicle to another location for the purpose of repair, storage, or disposal. For the purpose of this section, “owner of the vehicle<\/span>” means a person who (a) has vested ownership, dominion, or title to the vehicle; (b) is the authorized agent<\/span> of the owner as defined in clause (a); or (c) is an employee, agent<\/span>, or representative of an insurance company representing any party<\/span> involved in a collision that resulted in a (1) police-requested tow or (2) towing request made by a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> employed by the Department<\/span> of State Police who represents in writing that the insurance company has obtained the oral or written consent of the title owner or his agent<\/span> or the lessee of the vehicle to obtain possession<\/span> of the vehicle. It shall be unlawful for any towing and recovery business to refuse to release a vehicle to the owner as defined in this section upon tender of full payment for all lawful charges by cash, insurance company check, certified check, money order<\/span>, at least one of two commonly used, nationally recognized credit cards, or additional methods of payment approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Thereafter, if a towing and recovery business refuses to release the vehicle, future charges related to storage or handling of the vehicle by such towing and recovery business shall be suspended and no longer payable.\n\t\tThe vehicle owner who has vested ownership, dominion, or title to the vehicle shall indemnify and hold harmless the towing and recovery operator<\/span> from any and all liability for releasing the vehicle to any vehicle owner as defined in this section for inspecting or towing the vehicle to another location for the purpose of repair, storage, or disposal.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLOCAL GOVERNING BODY MAY REGULATE CERTAIN TOWING (\u00a7 46.2-1217)\n\nThe governing body of any county, city, or town by ordinance may regulate\nservices rendered pursuant to police towing requests by any business engaged in\nthe towing or storage of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles. The\nordinance may include delineation of service areas for towing services, the\nlimitation of the number of persons engaged in towing services in any area,\nincluding the creation of one or more exclusive service areas, and the\nspecification of equipment to be used for providing towing service. The\ngoverning body of any county, city, or town may contract for services rendered\npursuant to a police towing request with one or more businesses engaged in the\ntowing or storage of unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicles. The contract\nmay specify the fees or charges to be paid by the owner or operator of a towed\nvehicle to the person undertaking its towing or storage and may prescribe the\ngeographical area to be served by each person providing towing services. The\ncounty, city, or town may establish criteria for eligibility of persons to enter\ninto towing services contracts and, in its discretion, may itself provide\nexclusive towing and storage service for police-requested towing of unattended,\nabandoned, or immobile vehicles. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Department of\nState Police from entering into a memorandum of understanding with a county,\ncity, or town to provide for towing services.\n\t\tPrior to adopting an ordinance or entering into a contract pursuant to this\nsection, the local governing body shall appoint an advisory board to advise the\ngoverning body with regard to the appropriate provisions of the ordinance or\nterms of the contract. The advisory board shall include representatives of local\nlaw-enforcement agencies, towing and recovery operators, and the general public.\n\t\t“Police-requested towing” or “police towing request,”\nas used in this section, includes all requests made by a law-enforcement officer\nof the county, city, or town pursuant to this article or Article 2 (\u00a7 46.2-1209\net seq.) and towing requests made by a law-enforcement officer of the county,\ncity, or town at the request of the owner or operator of an unattended,\nabandoned, or immobile vehicle, when no specific service provider is requested\nby such owner or operator.\n\t\tIf an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle is located so as to impede\nthe free flow of traffic on a highway declared by resolution of the Commonwealth\nTransportation Board to be a portion of the interstate highway system and a\nlaw-enforcement officer determines, in his discretion, that the business or\nbusinesses authorized to undertake the towing or storage of the vehicle pursuant\nto an ordinance or contract adopted pursuant to this section cannot respond in a\ntimely manner, the law-enforcement officer may request towing or storage service\nfrom a towing or storage business other than those authorized by such ordinance\nor contract.\n\t\tIf an unattended, abandoned, or immobile vehicle is towed as the result of a\n(i) police towing request or (ii) towing request made by a law-enforcement\nofficer employed by the Department of State Police, the owner or person having\ncontrol of the business or property to which the vehicle is towed shall allow\nthe owner of the vehicle or any other towing and recovery business, upon\npresentation of a written request therefor from the owner of the vehicle, to\nhave access to the vehicle for the purpose of inspecting or towing the vehicle\nto another location for the purpose of repair, storage, or disposal. For the\npurpose of this section, “owner of the vehicle” means a person who\n(a) has vested ownership, dominion, or title to the vehicle; (b) is the\nauthorized agent of the owner as defined in clause (a); or (c) is an employee,\nagent, or representative of an insurance company representing any party involved\nin a collision that resulted in a (1) police-requested tow or (2) towing request\nmade by a law-enforcement officer employed by the Department of State Police who\nrepresents in writing that the insurance company has obtained the oral or\nwritten consent of the title owner or his agent or the lessee of the vehicle to\nobtain possession of the vehicle. It shall be unlawful for any towing and\nrecovery business to refuse to release a vehicle to the owner as defined in this\nsection upon tender of full payment for all lawful charges by cash, insurance\ncompany check, certified check, money order, at least one of two commonly used,\nnationally recognized credit cards, or additional methods of payment approved by\nthe Commonwealth Transportation Board. Thereafter, if a towing and recovery\nbusiness refuses to release the vehicle, future charges related to storage or\nhandling of the vehicle by such towing and recovery business shall be suspended\nand no longer payable.\n\t\tThe vehicle owner who has vested ownership, dominion, or title to the vehicle\nshall indemnify and hold harmless the towing and recovery operator from any and\nall liability for releasing the vehicle to any vehicle owner as defined in this\nsection for inspecting or towing the vehicle to another location for the purpose\nof repair, storage, or disposal.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 46-5.1; 1956, c. 114; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7\u00a7 46.1-3,\n46.1-3.02; 1960, cc. 75, 204; 1966, c. 297; 1972, c. 267; 1974, c. 142; 1977, c.\n666; 1980, c. 551; 1978, c. 282; 1984, cc. 64, 190, 381; 1985, c. 91; 1988, c.\n520; 1989, c. 727; 1993, c. 405; 1999, c. 78; 2006, cc. 874, 891; 2008, cc. 470,\n647; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2019, c. 630.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}