Substitute for HB 184 would require VIN-based public towing database, shorten notice windows; industry and DOR seek technical fixes

Chairman Launston presented the substitute to House Bill 184 (LC394999S), saying the measure updates rules governing involuntary towing to align practices with other states and modernize notification and owner‑location procedures. The substitute creates a public towed‑vehicle database where towing and storage operators would enter the vehicle VIN and location information to help owners find their vehicles.

The substitute shortens certain notice periods (for example, from 15 to 7 days in sections described in the bill text) and replaces publication in local legal organs with electronic notification and a publicly accessible database. Launston said the language was a compromise developed with towing companies, rental‑car firms, magistrate judges and the Department of Revenue over about a year.

Rusty Sewell, speaking for Enterprise, said the proposed system would give vehicle owners a quick, electronic means to locate towed vehicles and could streamline lot operations. Representatives of the Towing and Recovery Association of Georgia (TRAG) said they had worked with Enterprise and the sponsor but requested clarity on DOR’s role, caps or limits on reporting fees, and whether timing references meant calendar days or business days. TRAG also asked the committee to consider a one‑year compliance window once the database is established to allow small operators to come into compliance.

Joe Snouden for the Department of Revenue said the state would likely procure a third party to operate the database via RFP and RFI processes and that many implementation details — including fee structures and technical access for rural towing companies — would be addressed in rulemaking. The committee heard several technical questions and agreed to continued meetings; the sponsor said the measure will be back at the committee’s 8 a.m. session the following morning for further work.

Committee members thanked stakeholders for compromise work and scheduled follow-up meetings to resolve outstanding implementation questions.