(a) No person may nonconsensually tow a motor vehicle to a storage facility or store such a motor vehicle at a storage facility unless the storage facility meets the following criteria:
- (1) The storage facility has a business office open to the public between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at least 5 days a week, excluding holidays.
- (2) The storage facility is secured and, if it is an outdoor storage facility, lighted from dusk to dawn.
- (3) The storage facility allows motor vehicle owners, lessees, lienholders, or persons authorized by such owners, lessees, or lienholders of a nonconsensually-towed motor vehicle, to, at no fee, obtain personal items from a towed motor vehicle during the normal business hours of the storage facility upon a showing of valid identification.
- (4) The storage facility accepts as a means of payment all major credit cards and debit cards, or the storage facility has an operating automated teller machine (ATM). An ATM service or access fee must be reasonable.
- (5) The storage facility is in compliance with § 6907A of this title.
(b) A private tow company must provide reasonable accommodations for after-hours access to and release of stored motor vehicles.
(1) A storage facility must post instructions on how to request after-hours access to or release of a stored motor vehicle in each of the following manners:
- a. Outside the private tow company and storage facility’s place of business in a location easily viewable by the general public.
- b. Prominently on the private tow company’s or storage facility’s website.
- c. In any recorded phone message that members of the public seeking after-hours access to a motor vehicle are likely to hear.
- (2) A private tow company or storage facility may charge a maximum fee of $50 for after-hours access to or release of stored motor vehicles.
- (3) No private tow company or storage facility may charge storage fees or an after-hour access fee for any portion of a day during which an owner or operator of a motor vehicle is unable to obtain access to and release of the stored motor vehicle during the hours of 8 a.m to 6 p.m. within 90 minutes of following the instructions posted under paragraph (b)(1) of this section
85 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 1