Towing Issues: car towing laws, tow truck operators, carrier safety regulations

Question
In Ohio, what is the law concerning towing my car if I am standing there, or if I come out and they have my car on the truck? What are my rights?

Answer
well if I follow this question correctly, you were parked in a private lot and a tow truck was called (or on a contract to cruise-patrol the lot) to remove your vehicle.

OK if that is the case, if they had the vehicle hooked up you would have to pay a fee to redeem the vehicle. It will usually be less than the normal fee to get the vehicle to the towing company impound yard...

Now in Ohio tow companies are regulated by the PUCO (public utilities commission office) and they have some guidelines to follow..   BUT there are also some exemptions to the rules and some issues which the PUCO can not handle..

But there are also some cities which have imposed other laws and regulations for their areas which might also affect the correct answer to this question.

Below is a section of what I found to help you with the answer..

Just like motor carriers that haul everything from produce to hazardous materials, for-hire tow trucks operating on Ohio’s roadways must register with the PUCO. For-hire towing companies must also follow federal motor carrier safety regulations governing maintenance and repair, record keeping, driver licensing, drug and alcohol testing, and hours of service. The PUCO conducts regular inspections to ensure that tow truck operators are in compliance with the federal rules and assesses fines when violations are detected.

Several categories of tow truck operators are exempt from PUCO registration requirements and federal motor carrier safety regulations, including:

Owners of tow trucks used for private business and not for-hire (This category includes salvage yards hauling only vehicles purchased for salvage and companies that operate tow trucks to service fleet vehicles.).
For-hire tow truck companies that operate entirely within one or more contiguous municipal areas.
Government agencies.
The PUCO does not have the authority to set towing rates or vehicle impoundment fees and does not regulate the customer service quality or operating boundaries of tow truck companies. Questions and concerns regarding the service of a particular towing company should be directed to the Ohio Attorney General or the Better Business Bureau.



I hope this helps provide an answer for you.