SR 197: Requesting the Office of consumer protection of the department of commerce and consumer affairs to convene a task force to assess issues related to the availability of payment options from tow companies.

SENATE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Office of consumer protection of the department of commerce and consumer affairs to convene a task force to assess issues related to the availability of payment options from tow companies.

     WHEREAS, towing services play a critical role in maintaining public safety and order by removing illegally parked or abandoned vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, vehicle owners who retrieve their towed vehicles often face challenges in making payments due to limited cash availability and lack of access to convenient payment methods; and

     WHEREAS, the State has recognized the importance of ensuring fair and transparent towing practices, including requiring towing companies to accept multiple forms of payment such as cash and credit or debit cards; and

     WHEREAS, some towing companies may not consistently provide convenient payment options, creating undue hardship for vehicle owners attempting to retrieve their vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, ensuring that towing companies have an on-site automated teller machine will provide an additional payment option for vehicle owners and reduce unnecessary delays in vehicle retrieval; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to convene a task force to assess issues related to the availability of accessible payment options at towing companies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to invite any stakeholders to be members of the task force as deemed appropriate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation and Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Report Title:

Towing Companies; Tow Truck; Automatic Teller Machine

SENATE RESOLUTION

URGING ALL TOWING COMPANIES TO HAVE AN ON-SITE AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE TO ENSURE ACCESSIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR VEHICLE OWNERS.

     WHEREAS, towing services play a critical role in maintaining public safety and order by removing illegally parked or abandoned vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, vehicle owners who retrieve their towed vehicles often face challenges in making payments due to limited cash availability and lack of access to convenient payment methods; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has recognized the importance of ensuring fair and transparent towing practices, including requiring towing companies to accept multiple forms of payment such as cash and credit or debit cards; and

     WHEREAS, some towing companies may not consistently provide convenient payment options, creating undue hardship for vehicle owners attempting to retrieve their vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, ensuring that towing companies have an on-site automated teller machine will provide an additional payment option for vehicle owners and reduce unnecessary delays in vehicle retrieval; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that towing companies are urged to install and maintain an on-site automated teller machine at the location where vehicle owners retrieve a vehicle; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to:

     (1)  The Director of Transportation who is requested to send copies of this measure to all companies currently contracted by the State to tow vehicles from state property; and

     (2)  The directors of the appropriate county departments and the director of the appropriate department of the City and County of Honolulu, who are requested to send copies of this measure to all companies within their jurisdiction who are contracted to tow vehicles from county property or City and County of Honolulu property.

Report Title:

Towing Companies; Tow Truck; Automatic Teller Machine

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1636

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 197

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.R. No. 197 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING ALL TOWING COMPANIES TO HAVE AN ON‑SITE AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE TO ENSURE ACCESSIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR VEHICLE OWNERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge towing companies to install and maintain an on-site automated teller machine to ensure accessible payment options for vehicle owners.

     Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and one individual.

     Your Committees find that towing services play a critical role in maintaining public safety and order by removing illegally parked or abandoned vehicles.  Your Committees further find that vehicle owners who retrieve their towed vehicles often face challenges in making payments due to limited cash availability and lack of access to convenient payment methods.  Your Committees conclude that provision of additional payment options for vehicle owners would reduce unnecessary delays in vehicle retrieval.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by: 

     (1)  Deleting language that would have urged towing companies to install and maintain an on-site automated teller machine at the location where vehicle owners retrieve a vehicle;

     (2)  Inserting language requesting the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to convene a task force to assess issues related to the availability of accessible payment options at towing companies;

     (3)  Requesting the Office of Consumer Protection to invite any stakeholders to be members of the task force as deemed appropriate;

     (4)  Requesting the Office of Consumer Protection to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026;

     (5)  Clarifying that certified copies be sent to the Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, rather than the directors of the appropriate county departments and the director of the appropriate department of the City and County of Honolulu;

     (6)  Amending its title accordingly; and

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 197, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 197, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Commerce and Consumer Protection,