Sec.14-63-37a. Release of towed vehicles

(a) If a wrecker service performs towing for compensation outside its hours of operation as filed with the commissioner pursuant to Section 14-63-35 (b) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, or contracts to perform towing for compensation outside its hours of operation, or advertises to the public that it is available to perform towing for compensation outside its hours of operation, the wrecker service shall permit the owner or person legally entitled to custody of a motor vehicle to claim a stored motor vehicle at any time including times outside its hours of operation. The wrecker service shall release the vehicle to the owner or person legally entitled to custody within a reasonable period of time after the request for release. For the purpose of this subsection a person is deemed to have made a request for release of a stored motor vehicle by appearing in person at the principal place of business of the wrecker service or by placing a telephone call to the wrecker service at its published telephone number.

(b) An after hours release fee may be charged by a wrecker service for release of a motor vehicle after its hours of operation, as defined in Section 14-63-35 (b), in an amount filed with and approved by the commissioner, provided however that in the event a wrecker service is open after its hours of operation and has a regularly scheduled employee on the premises with authority to release a motor vehicle, no after hour release fee shall be charged.

(Effective October 3, 1989)