Section 4513.611. Civil actions against towing service or storage facility

(A) A vehicle owner may bring a civil action against a towing service or storage facility that violates section 4513.60, 4513.601, or 4513.68 of the Revised Code. If a court determines that the towing service or storage facility committed the violation, the court shall award the vehicle owner the following:

(1) If the towing service or storage facility has not committed any prior violations within one year of the violation, one thousand dollars;

(2) If the towing service or storage facility has committed one prior violation within one year of the violation, two thousand five hundred dollars;

(3) If the towing service or storage facility has committed two prior violations within one year of the violation, two thousand five hundred dollars. In addition, the court shall order the public utilities commission to revoke the towing service's or storage facility's certificate of public convenience and necessity for six months. The commission shall comply with the order.

(B) Upon expiration of the six-month revocation under division (A)(3) of this section, a court shall not consider any violation committed by the towing service or storage facility prior to the revocation for purposes of a civil action initiated after the expiration of the six-month revocation.

(C) In addition to an award made under division (A) of this section, if a court determines that a towing service or storage facility committed a violation that caused actual damages, the court shall award the vehicle owner three times the actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 274, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.