Tennessee lawmakers pass bill to restrict vehicle booting in commercial lots
Tennessee lawmakers have advanced a bill that would restrict vehicle booting and towing in commercial lots.
Last week, Sen. Jack Johnson’s bill SB 1692 passed through the Tennessee General Assembly. It now awaits the signature of Governor Bill Lee to pass into law.
The bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone other than a parking attendant licensed by local government to boot a vehicle. These attendants must display photo identification and wear uniforms to identify them as an employee of the licensed parking lot at all times when the licensed parking attendant is on duty.
Additionally, the bill prohibits a boot removal fee in excess of $75, and requires the parking attendant to respond to a request to remove a boot within 30 minutes.
The bill also establishes signage requirements for commercial lots with restricted parking policies.
“This legislation will protect vehicle owners in Tennessee from bad actors seeking to profit off of immobilizing and confiscating vehicles,” said Johnson. “I’ve received complaints from many constituents who have had to go through unreasonably long and expensive processes to regain control of their vehicles which were unfairly immobilized or towed. Unfortunately, our current laws do not provide legal recourse to punish parking enforcers engaged in certain nefarious practices. This bill targets those bad actors and protects Tennessee vehicle owners.”