Virginia legislators introduced a bill in January 2022 that would allow residents and localities greater ability to pursue legal action against towing companies engaging in predatory practices, inspired directly by the Advanced Towing case in Arlington where an AG lawsuit seeking $650,900 resulted in only $750 in court-imposed penalties, according to ARLnow. The bill aimed to close the enforcement gap exposed by the judicial outcome.
Operator takeaway
When courts impose $750 on a $650,900 AG action, legislators respond by giving consumers private right of action — expect similar bills in any state where AG enforcement produces weak judicial outcomes.