Pennsylvania Towing Association

07/15/2026

The Pennsylvania Towing Association would like to provide an important update regarding Senate Bill 779, sponsored by Senator Picozzi.
As of July 12th, SB779, as amended, has passed both the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support and is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature. While the final version removed the most severe penalty language—including mandatory misdemeanor charges and jail time—the bill still moves the Towing and Storage Standards Act (Act 110 of 2012) into Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code. This change continues to raise serious concerns about the potential for misuse and malicious prosecution by less-than-scrupulous district attorney offices.
From the beginning, the Pennsylvania Towing Association has been actively monitoring this legislation since its introduction in 2025. We have engaged with lawmakers, advocated for amendments, and worked to mitigate the most harmful provisions. Some of those efforts were successful, particularly in removing the harshest criminal penalties. However, we were ultimately facing a heavily funded and highly organized effort backed by the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, which had strong bipartisan support throughout the legislative process.
To put this into perspective, SB779 passed the Senate in May 2025 with a 49-1 vote. On July 12th, it passed the House 193-9 and then returned to the Senate where it again passed 49-1 in its amended form. These margins are extraordinarily difficult to overcome under any circumstances.
We understand the frustration being expressed across the industry. However, it is important to address a difficult reality: the level of engagement and support from the towing industry has been critically low. Our membership is at historic lows, funding for advocacy efforts is nearly nonexistent, and participation in meetings and legislative outreach has been minimal.
In fact, only a handful of individuals consistently attend meetings and contribute financially—often covering more of the association’s expenses than the broader membership combined. These same individuals are also the ones dedicating their time to legislative advocacy, communication with lawmakers, and efforts to protect the industry.
At the same time, we have seen criticism directed at the Association for not doing enough. We must be clear—effective advocacy requires collective effort. It requires participation, financial support, and a willingness to engage in the legislative process. Without that, even the most dedicated efforts face significant limitations, especially when opposing well-funded organizations with active and engaged memberships.
Additionally, divisions within the industry and a lack of unified strategy further weakened our position. Opportunities for compromise and coordinated action were limited, making an already difficult situation even more challenging.
While this outcome is not what we had hoped for, it is important to recognize that the bill could have been significantly worse. The removal of mandatory criminal penalties was a direct result of advocacy efforts. However, concerns remain regarding how the law may be interpreted and enforced moving forward.
This moment should serve as a wake-up call for the entire towing industry in Pennsylvania.
We encourage every operator, owner, and stakeholder to take a hard look at their level of involvement. Ask yourself: Am I doing enough to support my industry, or am I expecting others to carry that burden for me?
If we want to influence future legislation, protect our businesses, and ensure fair treatment under the law, we must come together as an industry. That means joining the Association, contributing financially, attending meetings, participating in outreach efforts, and making your voice heard with elected officials.
The Pennsylvania Towing Association remains committed to advocating for the industry, but we cannot do it alone.
Your involvement is not optional—it is essential.

07/14/2026

The Pennsylvania Towing Association is aware that Senate Bill 779, sponsored by Senator Picozzi, is moving quickly through the legislative process and could soon come up for a vote.

This legislation seeks to move the Towing and Storage Standards Act (Act 110 of 2012) into Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code. While the Pennsylvania Towing Association fully supports efforts to eliminate predatory towing practices, we have serious concerns about placing these provisions within the criminal code and the unintended consequences this could have for legitimate towing companies across the Commonwealth.

The Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania recently distributed a memorandum encouraging legislators to support Senate Bill 779, stating that the bill simply transfers the existing provisions of Act 110 into Title 18 to provide law enforcement with additional enforcement authority. According to the memorandum, the bill would:

* Deter unauthorized towing without a vehicle owner’s consent.
* Ensure transparency in fee disclosures and billing practices.
* Require towing companies to accept multiple forms of payment.
* Promote the prompt release of vehicles to their rightful owners.

While these objectives may appear reasonable on their face, the language of the legislation raises significant concerns for those who lawfully perform non-consensual towing services every day.

One of our greatest concerns involves the bill’s treatment of “unauthorized towing.” Legitimate towing companies routinely respond to requests from law enforcement agencies to remove disabled, abandoned, illegally parked, or crash-involved vehicles. Despite these lawful police-directed tows, vehicle owners frequently claim their vehicles were “illegally towed” simply because they did not personally authorize the removal.

Without carefully crafted language that clearly protects towing companies acting under lawful authority—including police-ordered tows—this legislation could expose reputable businesses to criminal allegations for performing duties they were legally directed to carry out.

The Pennsylvania Towing Association believes legislation should aggressively target predatory towing operators while providing equally clear protections for companies that operate professionally, ethically, and in full compliance with Pennsylvania law.

We encourage every towing company, operator, and industry stakeholder to carefully review Senate Bill 779 and consider how its language may affect your business and your employees. Now is the time to contact your State Senator and State Representative and share your experience. Legislators need to hear directly from the professionals who provide emergency roadside and recovery services throughout the Commonwealth.

Your voice matters. Please take the time to read the proposed legislation and communicate your concerns respectfully and professionally with your elected officials before this bill advances further.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.palegis.us_legislation_bills_text_PDF_2025_0_SB0779_PN1862&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=jiS_XCTSHGMv9Re6EIh8H6vX6JFc4ugzCy7cCJIB8V4&m=g4ZrUw3xKDlx4Guxy-ohRQy46FX4zLNI0u4d3o4QNOFdvlAZ175rPBSNNedenNTw&s=z6fIMZhaGWRoW2LlWG3uHIiPe4hZ4KgCziBM89PuFI8&e=2.718

07/01/2026

The Pennsylvania Towing Association extends our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and members of the Pennsylvania State Police following the tragic line-of-duty death of a Trooper this morning.

Here is a family forever changed. Coworkers that will never be the same. Industry partners that will never forget.

A routine commercial vehicle inspection turned into an unimaginable tragedy. Every day, law enforcement officers, tow operators, firefighters, EMS personnel, and highway workers place themselves in harm’s way to protect the traveling public. They deserve to return home to their families after every shift.

This heartbreaking loss is a sobering reminder that a single careless action behind the wheel can have lifelong consequences. Whether it is distracted driving, excessive speed, or simply failing to pay attention, the cost can be measured in lives forever changed.

We urge every motorist to slow down, move over, eliminate distractions, and remember that the flashing lights on the shoulder represent people—not obstacles. They are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and friends who are simply doing their jobs.

Today, we stand with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Trooper’s family, fellow first responders, and everyone mourning this tremendous loss.

Rest easy, Trooper. Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your unwavering commitment to protecting the people of the Commonwealth. You will never be forgotten.

06/29/2026

06/27/2026

Mark your calendars!

06/25/2026

“All you did was tow it a few miles. Why does it cost so much?”

It’s a question towing companies hear all the time after police directed emergency towing.

The answer is simple: you’re not paying for the few miles your vehicle traveled. You’re paying for the emergency response system that made it possible for help to arrive when you needed it. Not scheduled, not tomorrow, not when we can fit it in, but right now immediate response.

Like EMS and the fire department, towing companies are expected to respond 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—often within 20 minutes of being called by law enforcement. That means maintaining trained operators, dispatch systems, insurance, storage facilities, and hundreds of thousands (sometimes millions) of dollars in specialized equipment ready to roll at a moment’s notice.

Here’s the difference…

Police departments are funded.

Fire departments are funded.

EMS receives public funding, grants, or municipal support.

Emergency towing companies receive none.

In fact, we may be the only emergency service expected to maintain around-the-clock readiness without taxpayer funding. Even more challenging, approximately 40% of our police-requested services ultimately go unpaid.

Yet when the phone rings at 2:00 AM, during a snowstorm, after a serious crash, or when a roadway needs cleared for public safety, we’re still expected to respond immediately.

And we do.

The invoice isn’t paying for a few miles of towing.

It’s paying for the trucks, equipment, facilities, insurance, training, and people standing by 24/7, ready to respond when nobody else can.

That’s the true cost of emergency towing.

06/16/2026

E-Bikes, a growing concern for our industry

06/08/2026

Another great training opportunity

06/05/2026

This training is rapidly approaching, great opportunity!

Chuck is so gracious that he is donating $50-$100 per student back to the PTA.
Thank you so much Chuck.

05/19/2026

Emergency Police Towing & Storage for E-Bikes

Why Emergency Response Pricing Should Not Be Discounted

As the towing and recovery industry continues to evolve, many companies are seeing a sharp increase in police-requested responses involving electric bicycles, scooters, and other lithium-ion-powered mobility devices. While some may look at an e-bike and assume it should cost less to tow or store than a passenger vehicle, the reality is quite different.
The truth is simple: the emergency response requirements for an e-bike incident are often identical to those of a passenger vehicle incident.
When law enforcement requests a tow for an abandoned, damaged, involved-in-crime, or accident-related e-bike, the towing company is still expected to provide:
Immediate or priority emergency response
A qualified and trained operator
A fully equipped tow truck
Scene safety management
Documentation and evidence handling
Secure transportation and storage
The operator responding to the call is the same trained professional who responds to vehicle accidents, fatalities, roadway hazards, and police emergencies. The truck being dispatched is the same truck that would otherwise be responding to a passenger vehicle call. The costs associated with maintaining that equipment, insurance coverage, fuel, training, payroll, and emergency availability do not change simply because the vehicle being transported happens to have two wheels instead of four.

Storage Concerns & Lithium-Ion Battery Risks.

In many ways, an e-bike can actually create greater storage liability concerns than a traditional automobile.
Lithium-ion batteries have become a growing concern across multiple industries due to:
Thermal runaway risks
Fire hazards
Re-ignition potential
Water damage instability
Charging system failures
Unknown aftermarket battery modifications

Unlike a conventional vehicle, some damaged e-bikes may require:
Indoor storage
Covered storage
Isolation from other vehicles or structures
Additional fire mitigation considerations
Increased monitoring for battery instability
That creates additional liability exposure for towing companies already operating with limited storage space and rising insurance costs.

The Abandoned Property Problem

One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding police-towed e-bikes is the legal disposition process.
With traditional vehicles, towing companies generally have an established abandoned vehicle procedure involving:
VIN numbers
Ownership identification
State databases
Certified notices
Title recovery processes
Auction or disposal rights
E-bikes create an entirely different challenge.
Many e-bikes:
Have no VIN number
Are not registered
Have no insurance information
Have limited ownership documentation
Cannot easily be traced through state systems
This raises serious questions for towing operators:
How long are we legally required to hold these bikes?
What process exists if the owner never claims the property?
Can the towing company legally sell the bike?
How is disposal handled if the battery is damaged?
Who pays the bill if there is no identifiable insurance company?
How many towing companies will be left holding abandoned and unpaid e-bikes?

The value of these bikes can range between $1,500 and $10,000

These are issues the industry will need to address proactively as e-bike usage continues to grow nationwide.

Emergency Response Is Still Emergency Response.

The towing industry must avoid the mistake of undervaluing these calls simply because the vehicle is smaller.
Emergency police towing is not priced based solely on the size of the object being transported. It is priced based on:
Emergency availability
Liability exposure
Equipment costs
Operator qualifications
Response expectations
Storage risk
Administrative burden
Scene hazards
An e-bike response still removes a truck and operator from availability for other emergency calls. It still exposes the company to liability. It still requires trained personnel and secure storage.
The Industry Needs Policies.
As police-requested e-bike tows continue to increase, towing companies should strongly consider implementing written company policies regarding:
Response procedures
Battery fire risks
Storage practices
Documentation requirements
Disposal procedures
Rate structures
Release requirements
Law enforcement coordination

The towing industry has adapted to hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, autonomous technology, and evolving roadway hazards. E-bikes are simply the next challenge requiring professional standards and realistic pricing.

Final Thought.
Do not discount your emergency response rates simply because the call involves an e-bike.
Treat these incidents as what they are: emergency police responses requiring trained personnel, specialized equipment, liability exposure, and potentially elevated storage risks.
If anything, many e-bike storage situations may justify increased caution and higher-risk storage considerations due to lithium-ion battery concerns.
As an industry, now is the time to establish best practices before these calls become an even larger operational and legal issue.