Ind. Code ch. 24-14-3

in effect

Ind. Code § 24-14-3-1 Application of chapter

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to a towing company that engages in, or offers to engage in, emergency towing. As added by P.L.281-2019, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 24-14-3-2 Prohibition against stopping or causing a person to stop at scene of accident; exceptions

Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a towing company shall not stop, or cause a person to stop, at the scene of an accident or near a disabled motor vehicle: (1) if there is an injury as the result of an accident; or (2) for the purpose of: (A) soliciting an engagement for emergency towing services; (B) moving a motor vehicle from a public street, road, or highway; or (C) accruing charges in connection with an activity described in clause (A) or (B). (b) A towing company may stop, or cause a person to stop, at the scene of an accident or near a disabled motor vehicle under the circumstances or for any of the purposes described in subsection (a) if: (1) the towing company is requested to stop or to perform a towing service by a law enforcement officer or by authorized state, county, or municipal personnel; (2) the towing company is summoned to the scene or requested to stop by the owner or operator of a disabled vehicle; (3) the owner of a disabled motor vehicle has previously provided consent to the towing company to stop or perform a towing service; or (4) the towing company has a reasonable belief that a motorist is in need of immediate aid. However, a towing company may not offer towing services under subdivision (4) unless one of the conditions described in subdivisions (1) through (3) are also met. As added by P.L.281-2019, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 24-14-3-3 Permitted acts by owner or operator of motor vehicle; exceptions; permissible fees

Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), the owner or operator of a disabled motor vehicle may, in consultation with law enforcement or with authorized state, county, or municipal personnel (if appropriate): (1) summon to the disabled motor vehicle's location the towing company of the owner's or operator's choice, either directly or through an insurance company's or an automobile club's emergency service arrangement; and (2) designate the location to which the disabled motor vehicle is to be towed. However, if the location designated by the owner or operator is not a storage facility owned or operated by the towing company, the owner or operator must make arrangements for payment to the towing company prior to the tow truck leaving the scene. The fee charged by the towing company may not be more than normally charged by the towing company for the service provided. (b) Subsection (a) does not apply: (1) in any case in which the owner or operator of a disabled motor vehicle: (A) is incapacitated or otherwise unable to summon a towing company; or (B) defers to law enforcement or to authorized state, county, or municipal personnel as to: (i) the towing company to be summoned; or (ii) the location to which the disabled motor vehicle is to be towed; or (2) in the event of a declared emergency. (c) The authority of an owner or operator of a disabled vehicle to summon the towing company of the owner's or operator's choice under subsection (a) shall be superseded by a law enforcement officer or by authorized state, county, or municipal personnel if the towing company of choice of the owner or operator: (1) is unable to respond to the location of the disabled motor vehicle in a timely fashion; and (2) the disabled motor vehicle: (A) is a hazard; (B) impedes the flow of traffic; or (C) may not legally remain in its location; in the opinion of the law enforcement officer or authorized state, county, or municipal personnel. As added by P.L.281-2019, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 24-14-3-4 Motor vehicle as safety hazard

Sec. 4. If a disabled motor vehicle: (1) is causing; or (2) poses; a safety hazard to any of the parties at the scene of the disabled motor vehicle, the disabled motor vehicle may be moved by a towing company to a safe location after being released by a law enforcement officer or by authorized state, county, or municipal personnel for that purpose. As added by P.L.281-2019, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 24-14-3-5 Emergency towing; record keeping requirements

Sec. 5. (a) If a towing company is summoned for emergency towing by the owner or operator of a disabled motor vehicle, the towing company shall make a record of the following, to the extent available: (1) The: (A) first and last name; and (B) telephone number; of the person who summoned the towing company to the scene. (2) The make, model, year, vehicle identification number, and license plate number of the disabled motor vehicle. (b) If a towing company is summoned for emergency towing by a law enforcement officer or by authorized state, county, or municipal personnel, the towing company shall make a record of the following, to the extent available: (1) The identity of: (A) the local law enforcement agency; or (B) the authorized state, county, or municipal agency; requesting the emergency towing. (2) The make, model, year, vehicle identification number, and license plate number of the disabled motor vehicle. (c) A towing company: (1) shall: (A) maintain a record created under subsection (a) or (b); and (B) provide a record created under subsection (a) or (b) to a local law enforcement agency upon request; from the time the towing company appears at the scene of the disabled motor vehicle until the time the motor vehicle is towed and released to an authorized party; and (2) shall: (A) retain a record created under subsection (a) or (b) for a period of two (2) years from the date the disabled vehicle was towed from the scene; and (B) throughout the two (2) year period described in clause (A), make the record available for inspection and copying, not later than two (2) business days after receiving a written request for inspection from: (i) a local law enforcement agency; (ii) the attorney general; (iii) the disabled motor vehicle's owner; or (iv) an authorized agent of the disabled motor vehicle's owner. As added by P.L.281-2019, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 24-14-3-6 Emergency towing; procedure

Sec. 6. A towing company that performs emergency towing under this chapter shall do the following: (1) Properly secure all towed motor vehicles. (2) Take all reasonable efforts to prevent: (A) further damage (including weather damage) to; or (B) the theft of; all towed motor vehicles, including a towed motor vehicle's cargo and contents. As added by P.L.281-2019, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 24-14-3-7 Access to the scene of a disabled motor vehicle

Sec. 7. A towing company responding to a summons for an emergency towing under this chapter may utilize the shoulder of the roadway as necessary to reach the scene of the disabled motor vehicle. As added by P.L.81-2026, SEC.3.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/24Fetched: 10/17/2026