Connecticut Panel to explore Extensive Towing Law Reform
HARTFORD, CT – September 9, 2025 – A Connecticut working group has been tasked with evaluating the state’s towing laws and recommending potential reforms to address longstanding concerns about transparency, fairness, and accessibility for drivers. The initiative, spurred by recent legislative action and reporting by ProPublica, aims to modernize the system and potentially alleviate financial burdens faced by motorists when vehicles are towed.Connecticut drivers have long navigated a patchwork of regulations governing towing practices, often leading to confusion over fees, storage costs, and dispute resolution. A new law, enacted earlier this year, offered some initial improvements, but advocates and lawmakers recognize the need for broader changes. This working group, convened by the legislature’s Transportation Committee, will delve into systemic issues and propose solutions to create a more standardized and equitable process for all involved. The group must deliver its findings to the Transportation Committee by February 2026.
State Representative Tony Guerrera, co-chair of the Transportation Committee, emphasized the importance of consensus-building within the group. “If we go to the legislature with a piece of information that says we have met with the industry on both sides, and this is what we’ve come up with, we’re in good shape,” Guerrera said. ”If we bog down now again, you know, now it’s in the hands of the legislature and we don’t know what could happen.”
The impetus for further reform stems from calls for a more streamlined and accessible system. According to industry stakeholders like John Colonese, a representative of the Connecticut Auto Body Association, a centralized digital portal could considerably improve transparency. ”There’s portals out there for all kinds of things. Why is there not a portal for this?” Colonese questioned. “Everyone can submit everything electronically and have access to a more standardized and modernized system.”
The working group’s examination will encompass input from both the towing industry and consumer advocates,seeking to balance the needs of businesses with the protections of drivers. The outcome of their deliberations will directly shape future legislation and potentially impact thousands of Connecticut motorists annually.
