<section article="gcl" article_name="Commercial Law" number="16A-101" title_number="16A" title_name="Police-Initiated Towing Services" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Authorized tow company” has the meaning stated in § 2–314 of the Public Safety Article.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Heavy–duty towing” has the meaning stated in § 2–314 of the Public Safety Article.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>“Medium–duty towing” has the meaning stated in § 2–314 of the Public Safety Article.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>“Police–initiated towing” has the meaning stated in § 2–314 of the Public Safety Article.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>“Tow list” has the meaning stated in § 2–314 of the Public Safety Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Title 16 of this article does not apply to police–initiated towing services by an authorized tow company.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Police–initiated towing does not create a lien or security interest for the authorized tow company in any equipment, vehicle, or cargo.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>An authorized tow company shall provide a vehicle owner or operator or the owner’s designee with reasonable access to a vehicle that is the subject of a police–initiated towing so that the vehicle owner or operator or the owner’s designee may access and collect any personal property or cargo contained in the vehicle, regardless of whether any payment has been made for the authorized tow company’s services.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>If there is no dispute as to the fees assessed by the authorized tow company for the police–initiated towing of a vehicle:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The vehicle owner or operator or the owner’s designee shall pay the authorized tow company’s invoice; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The authorized tow company shall release a vehicle and any cargo that was the subject of a police–initiated towing immediately.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If there is a genuine dispute as to the reasonableness or amount of the fees assessed by an authorized tow company the authorized tow company shall release the cargo immediately to the owner or the owner’s authorized agent in accordance with this subsection on submission of:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Proof of ownership if the cargo does not belong to the transportation company; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>If the cargo belongs to the transportation company:</text> <level label="1"> <text>A letter from the insurance company stating there is coverage for the relevant claim or accident and including, at minimum, a claim number, policy number, and policy limit; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If an insurance policy required under item 1 of this item is not high enough to cover the cost of the cargo clean–up, a signed letter of guarantee from the transportation company.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> </section>