Sec.14-63-36c. Permitted charges

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a licensed wrecker service shall not charge the owner or operator of a motor vehicle, having a G.V.W.R. less than ten thousand (10,000) pounds, for nonconsensual towing or transporting services as defined in section 14-63-34, any fees which are in excess of the tow charge.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a licensed wrecker service shall not charge the owner or operator of a motor vehicle, having a G.V.W.R. of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or more, for nonconsensual towing or transporting services as defined in section 14-63-34, any fees in excess of the fees computed on the basis of the hourly rate published by the commissioner.

(c) A licensed wrecker service may charge additional fees for exceptional services, and for services not included in the tow charge or hourly rate, which are reasonable and necessary for the nonconsensual towing or transporting of a motor vehicle. Any such additional fees shall be itemized in accordance with the hourly charge for labor posted by the licensed towing service, as required by the provisions of section 14-65j-3 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. Such additional fees shall be itemized separately, and the towing service shall maintain accurate records which explain such additional services. The commissioner may require the wrecking service to justify such additional fees. A copy of each towing bill or invoice containing the information required pursuant to section 14-66b of the general statutes shall be given to the customer upon payment of the bill.

(d) A licensed wrecker service shall not charge additional fees for nonconsensual towing or transporting services dispatched at night, or on a weekend or holiday.

(e) No additional fee shall be charged by a licensed wrecker service for releasing a vehicle to its owner or a person legally entitled to its custody.

(f) No additional fee shall be charged by a licensed wrecker service for permitting emergency access to a stored motor vehicle, as provided in Section 14-63-37b of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(g) For motor vehicles with a G.V.W.R. of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or more, the minimum charge shall be the hourly rate for one hour, with additional time required to accomplish the nonconsensual towing or transporting and recovery being billed in increments of no more than fifteen (15) minutes, based on the hourly rate.

(Effective September 30, 1998)