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DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to crack down on predatory vehicle booting, improve industry transparency, and ramp up consumer protections. HB25-1117 passed committee by a vote of 8-5.
“While vehicle immobilization serves as a tool for property owners to manage parking, it’s essential that these practices are conducted fairly and transparently,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “HB25-1117 aims to protect consumers by regulating vehicle immobilization companies, ensuring they operate under strict guidelines that prevent predatory practices. This bill empowers the Public Utilities Commission to hold companies accountable, mandates clear documentation before immobilization, and enhances industry transparency. By setting these standards, we support legitimate business operations while safeguarding Coloradans from unjust vehicle immobilization.”
“Right now, vehicle booting companies are taking advantage of a lack of regulations to immobilize Coloradans’ vehicles for profit,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “While we’ve made good headway to protect Coloradans from predatory towing practices, little has been done to protect vehicle owners from unfair booting practices. Our bill cracks down on booting companies that patrol parking lots and authorize their own booting practices that typically end up costing Coloradans money and time. Many Coloradans use their vehicles every day and an unexpected boot can cause financial and logistical headaches. To improve transparency and strengthen consumer protections, booting companies would be required to give consumers a fair warning and place a written notice on vehicles at least 24 hours before immobilizing them.”
HB25-1117 aims to improve oversight, transparency and fairness surrounding vehicle immobilization, including booting. Specifically, this bill would give the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) additional oversight to deny, suspend, revoke or refuse to review a permit to a vehicle booting company if the company is violating specific guidelines.
The goal of HB25-1117 is to establish new requirements for vehicle booting companies and prevent companies from patrolling parking lots.
Under the bill, vehicle booting companies would be required to:
Document a vehicle’s condition and the reason for immobilization before they immobilize it
Display the name of the company, the permit number and a phone number of the company on each company vehicle used for immobilization
Not charge more than once for the removal of more than one immobilization device
Additionally, vehicle booting companies must refrain from immobilizing a vehicle if:
It has already been immobilized by another company
It is on private property, unless given appropriate permission
It is in a parking space or common parking area until it places a detailed written notice on the windshield of a vehicle at least 24 hours before immobilizing
There is inadequate signage posted by the property owner
In recent years, Colorado Democrats have passed landmark legislation to protect consumers against predatory towing practices, including HB21-1283, HB22-1314, and HB24-1051.