Florida Lawmaker Proposes Stricter Regulations for Collision Repair Facilities
A new proposed legislation in Florida could potentially put additional burdens on collision repair facilities in the state. Senate Bill 194, also known as the Lilly Glaubach Act, requires repair facilities to obtain written crash reports before working on damaged vehicles. This bill, filed by Sen. Joe Grueters (R-Sarasota), aims to improve accountability and facilitate investigations into hit-and-run incidents.
The legislation was named after Lilly Glaubach, a 13-year-old girl who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run while riding her bicycle in August 2022. It was discovered that the driver responsible for her death, David Chang, had taken his vehicle to a repair center immediately after the accident and falsely claimed that the damage was caused by a fallen tree. The Lilly Glaubach Act seeks to prevent similar instances by making it a second-degree misdemeanor for repair facilities to perform collision work without first obtaining a crash report or completing a transaction form.
If passed, repair facilities would be required to submit documentation of each damaged vehicle they worked on the previous day on a daily basis. The proposed legislation also outlines specific information that must be included in the transaction form, such as the repair shop’s name and address, vehicle identification number, license tag number, and a description of the damage. These transaction forms must be kept by the repair centers for at least one year following the date of the transaction.
Additionally, repair facilities would be responsible for delivering the original transaction forms to local police stations by the end of each business day, unless alternative arrangements have been made. The legislation allows for electronic transfer if the appropriate law enforcement agency supplies the necessary software, and the repair shop has the computer capability. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the revocation of the facility’s business license.
While the intention behind the bill is to support investigations into hit-and-run incidents, some repair shop owners and technicians have expressed concerns about the potential impact on their operations. The additional paperwork and submission requirements could significantly slow down the repair process and increase turnaround times for customers.
However, those in support of the legislation believe that the benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks. The Lilly Glaubach Act aims to hold repair facilities accountable and assist law enforcement agencies in solving hit-and-run cases. By requiring the submission of crash reports and transaction forms, it becomes easier to trace the history of damaged vehicles and identify potential evidence related to these incidents.
It is important to note that this proposed legislation is still in the early stages, and it remains to be seen whether it will become law in Florida.