Tow companies or tow lists, utilization of by law enforcement and state transportation employees
When police, firefighters (in certain cities), or state transportation workers need a car towed, they can use an approved list of tow companies or a tow management company. If the car owner asks for a specific tow company, that request must be followed unless the company takes too long or the car is blocking traffic. A tow truck that shows up to an accident without being called — and then tows the car anyway — is breaking the law and can be charged with a misdemeanor or felony depending on how many times it has happened. Tow companies cannot take a vehicle out of Missouri without the owner's permission.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
304.153. Tow companies or tow lists, utilization of by law and state transportation employees—definitions—requirements—un towing, —inapplicability. — 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Firefighter", any person, including a volunteer firefighter, employed by the state or a or otherwise serving as a member or officer of a fire ;
(2) "", any , other than a patrol officer, who is defined as a law enforcement officer under section 556.061;
(3) "", a that, in of , , or of moneys, promises to provide motor club s to its members or in accordance with section 385.450;
(4) "Patrol officer", a Missouri state patrol officer;
(5) "Tow list", a list of approved towing companies compiled, maintained, and utilized by the Missouri state highway patrol or its ;
(6) "", any , , , , association, or other that manages towing logistics for government agencies or motor clubs;
(7) "Tow truck", a or , , or tow truck as defined under section 301.010;
(8) "Towing", moving or removing, or the preparation therefor, of a vehicle by another vehicle for which a service charge is made, either directly or indirectly, including any dues or other charges of clubs or associations which provide towing services;
(9) "", any person, partnership, corporation, fiduciary, association, or other that operates a wrecker or towing service as defined under section 301.010.
2. In authorizing a towing company to perform services, any patrol officer or law enforcement officer within the officer's , firefighter in a , or Missouri department of transportation employee may utilize the services of a tow management company or tow list, provided:
(1) The Missouri state highway patrol is under no obligation to include or retain the services of any towing company in any contract or agreement with a tow management company or any tow list established this section. A towing company is subject to removal from a tow list at any time;
(2) or any established pursuant to this section, an owner or 's request for a specific towing company shall be honored by the Missouri state highway patrol unless:
(a) The requested towing company cannot or does not respond in a reasonable time, as determined by a law enforcement officer; or
(b) The vehicle to be towed poses an immediate traffic , as determined by a law enforcement officer or by a firefighter in a city not within a county.
3. A patrol officer, or firefighter in a city not within a county, shall not use a towing company located outside of Missouri under this section except under the following circumstances:
(1) A state or federal emergency has been declared; or
(2) The driver or owner of the vehicle, or a motor club of which the driver or owner is a member, requests a specific out-of-state towing company.
4. A towing company shall not tow a vehicle to a location outside of Missouri without the of the driver or owner of the motor vehicle, or without the consent of a motor club of which the driver or owner of the motor vehicle is a member.
5. Any towing company or tow truck arriving at the scene of an accident that has not been called by a patrol officer, a law enforcement officer, a firefighter in a city not within a county, a Missouri department of transportation employee, or the driver or owner of the motor vehicle or his or her authorized , including a motor club of which the driver or owner is a member, shall be prohibited from towing the vehicle from the scene of the accident, unless the towing company or tow truck operator is rendering emergency aid in the interest of public safety, or is operating during a declared state of emergency under section 44.100.
6. A tow truck operator that stops and tows a vehicle from the scene of an accident in violation of 5 of this section shall be guilty of a upon or guilty for the first violation, and such tow truck shall be subject to . The penalty for a second violation shall be a , and the penalty for any third or shall be a . A violation of this section shall not the tow truck operator from being charged with under chapter 569.
7. The of this section shall also apply to motor vehicles towed under section 304.155 or 304.157.
8. The provisions of this section shall not apply to counties of the third or fourth .
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Source & history notes
(L. 2016 H.B. 1976, A.L. 2021 S.B. 6, A.L. 2025 H.B. 225)
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.