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Brian Walters Brian Walters

Broken Regulations: How Texas Towing Rules Contain Grammatically Impossible Requirements

Texas towing regulations contain shocking grammatical errors and systematic cross-reference failures that make key provisions impossible to understand. From sentences that compare the cost of a tow to a tow itself, to regulations referencing non-existent fee lists, Chapter 86 of the Texas Administrative Code is riddled with fundamental drafting flaws that create real problems for towing companies, vehicle owners, and courts. Our analysis reveals how these aren't minor technical issues, but serious regulatory dysfunction that undermines the entire framework governing the industry.

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Brian Walters Brian Walters

Texas Cities Strike Out: Court of Appeals Dismisses Constitutional Challenge to State Preemption Law on Standing Grounds

On July 18, 2025, the Texas Court of Appeals delivered a crushing blow to municipal authority advocates—but not in the way anyone expected. In State v. City of Houston, the court dismissed Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso's constitutional challenge to the controversial Texas Regulatory Consistency Act (TRCA) entirely for lack of standing, never reaching the weighty constitutional issues that had led a trial court to declare the Act "unconstitutional in its entirety." The appellate court created a catch-22 for the cities: to establish standing, they needed to show concrete injury from the Act's application to a specific local law, but identifying such a law could expose them to the very private enforcement actions they were trying to prevent. More significantly, the court held that the State isn't a proper defendant just because the Legislature enacted the statute, since the TRCA is enforced through private lawsuits rather than state action. The result leaves Texas's most aggressive preemption law—which bars municipalities from regulating in entire fields even when their ordinances don't conflict with state law—completely intact and untested, while its private enforcement mechanism continues to cast a regulatory chill over local government across the state.

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Brian Walters Brian Walters

Missouri’s HB 745: Statewide Regulation and a $25,000 Penalty

Missouri’s HB 745 is set to change the towing industry by regulating nonconsensual tows of commercial vehicles, limiting excessive fees, and introducing new complaint and oversight processes. Towing companies will face stricter billing rules, restrictions on liens, and potential penalties for violations. Understanding these changes is crucial for staying compliant and avoiding costly fines. Learn how this bill could impact your towing business and what steps you should take to prepare.

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Brian Walters Brian Walters

Briefing and FAQ on Ohio’s New Towing Dispute Resolution Bill - HB 403

House Bill 403 creates a streamlined process for resolving disputes over towing fees for commercial vehicles involved in accidents. It allows trucking companies to initiate civil action, requiring them to pay undisputed fees and post a bond for disputed amounts. The towing company must release the vehicle within two business days. The bill also addresses motor vehicle tampering, window tinting, and transportation network company background checks.

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