A new Virginia law aims to protect drivers from predatory towing practices after an investigation revealed concerning behavior by some tow truck operators. Earlier this year, the 7News I-Team witnessed 11 cars towed in just 10 days from a Giant Food parking lot in Arlington, with many of those drivers just making a quick stop at the nearby DMV office.
“They towed my friend’s car. All she was trying to do was get some tags and buy fruit. In three minutes, her car was gone,” said Arlington resident Asia Long.
The new law, House Bill 959 signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin, allows localities to require a second signature from the property owner before a tow can occur. It also permits regulation of monitoring tactics used by towing companies and increases penalties for illegal tows to 10 times the charged amount, with victims receiving that money.
Delegate Alfonso Lopez, who sponsored the bill, stated on X that it “ensures every part of Virginia uses the SAME rules when allowing localities to address predatory towing.”
However, John O’Neill, owner of the towing company Advanced Towing, strongly opposes the new law. “It serves no purpose but to place an onerous burden on the property owner and puts them in harm’s way,” O’Neill told 7News, accusing Lopez of retaliating after having his own vehicle towed illegally.
Advanced Towing has received a legal opinion claiming the law is unconstitutional for weakening private property rights. Meanwhile, both the Giant Food store and Virginia DMV have improved parking signage to help drivers avoid improper towing going forward.
As the Virginia DMV spokesperson stated, “In the brief time since our signs were updated for clarity, we’ve had no more customer inquiries about parking issues.”
