Connecticut legislators overhauled the state's towing law last year to make it more fair for low-income residents who couldn't afford the fees to get their cars back. The new law, which took effect in October 2025, requires tow truck companies to give owners notice before hauling away a car for minor issues like failing to display an apartment complex's parking permit or parking in the wrong space. Companies must now be available after hours to allow people to retrieve their vehicles, accept credit cards and provide change when people pay in cash.
However, reporting by the Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica shows that some towing companies aren't following the new requirements. When Elias Natal went to work one evening in December at his home at Sunset Ridge Apartments in New Haven, he discovered his Buick had been towed. The law requires apartment complexes to post signs warning of towing, but interviews with tenants and visits to Sunset Ridge show there were none at the complex, where many residents receive state or federal rental aid.
The towing company, Lombard Motors, told Natal he was towed for not having a parking permit, even though Natal has photos showing the sticker was displayed on the windshield as instructed by the apartment manager. When Natal and his partner Jasmin Flores discovered where the car was and went to pick it up, Lombard was already closed and no one was available to return their vehicle, triggering additional storage fees. By the time they got the money together, fees had stacked up to nearly $500. The company demanded cash and the couple paid but had to argue to get any change.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates and tenant organizations say the law's implementation reveals deeper systemic issues affecting low-income residents. Luke Melonakos, vice president of the Connecticut Tenants Union, described the situation as a "fish-in-a-barrel" problem where residents have no choice but to park in complexes with confusing parking rules that change frequently.
Tawana Galberth, a tenants union leader and resident at Sunset Ridge Apartments, noted that towing frequency has increased in recent months after the formation of the tenants union. Democratic lawmakers who championed the legislation say enforcement mechanisms need strengthening. The Connecticut DMV, which oversees tow company regulation, said it hasn't received any formal complaints about companies failing to follow the new law.
Tenant advocates are calling for more robust oversight and easier complaint processes for residents who believe their rights under the new statute have been violated. Some progressive groups argue that additional funding for enforcement staff at state agencies would help ensure compliance across the industry.
What the Right Is Saying
Some conservative commentators and business groups say the new law imposes significant operational burdens on towing companies without providing adequate support for implementation. Industry representatives have noted that after-hours availability requirements increase labor costs, while credit card processing fees cut into narrow profit margins in a competitive market.
Property owners and landlords argue they have legitimate interests in maintaining parking and enforcing lease agreements. Capital Realty Group, which owns Sunset Ridge Apartments, did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment on the towing practices at their properties. Some business advocates suggest that clearer guidelines from state agencies would help companies understand exactly what compliance requires.
Critics of expanded tenant protections say well-intentioned laws can have unintended consequences, potentially causing some tow operators to exit the market or prompting landlords to tighten parking restrictions further. Others note that apartment complexes bear responsibility for posting required warning signs and that enforcement should focus on property owners as well as towing companies.
What the Numbers Show
A CT Mirror and ProPublica analysis of police department tow logs from nine of Connecticut's largest cities showed significant disparities in towing patterns from 2022 to 2024. Census tracts where the most tows occurred tended to have larger populations of renters, larger Black and Hispanic populations and much higher rates of poverty than the state as a whole.
The census tract where Natal and Flores live had the second-most tows in New Haven and a high population of Hispanic and Black residents. In Norwalk, the top seven property parcels for tows belong to the public housing authority. At Sunset Ridge Apartments, which is owned by Capital Realty Group, there were 146 tows from 2022 to 2024, placing it among properties with more tows than most landlords in New Haven.
In the five months since the new law took effect in October 2025, Sunset Ridge has had 64 tows. Residents say towing frequency has increased even more in recent months following the formation of a tenants union at the complex. The Connecticut DMV reported it has not received any formal complaints about towing companies failing to comply with the new requirements.
The Bottom Line
The discrepancy between reports of non-compliance and the absence of formal complaints raises questions about awareness and access to enforcement mechanisms. Tenant advocates say many low-income residents may not know their rights under the new law or how to file complaints with state agencies.
What happens next will likely depend on whether the Connecticut DMV receives complaints prompting investigations, whether tenant organizations succeed in educating residents about their protections, and whether the legislature considers additional oversight measures when it reconvenes. State officials could face pressure to launch proactive compliance reviews of tow companies operating in high-volume areas identified by the police log analysis.
The situation illustrates a common challenge with new consumer protection laws: passing legislation is only the first step; ensuring widespread compliance among businesses requires ongoing monitoring, education and enforcement resources.