Senate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB541: SB541 Property; the placement of wheel restraints on trespassing motor vehicles; prohibit

Last action February 24, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred

A Georgia Senate bill would make it illegal to boot or lock the wheels of a trespassing vehicle on private property, while still allowing other approved methods of towing or immobilizing such vehicles.

In plain language

Georgia law currently lets property owners remove or immobilize vehicles that are illegally parked on their land, using devices that clamp onto a wheel or tire. This bill rewrites part of that law (O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13) to carve out 'wheel restraints,' meaning boots or locks, as a separate category from other immobilization devices, and then bans their use on trespassing vehicles outright. The bill adds a new definition of 'wheel restraint' and specifies that the existing definition of 'immobilization device' no longer includes wheel restraints. It then adds a new subsection making it a crime, punishable by a $1,000 fine, for any person or county or municipal government to install or attach a wheel restraint to a vehicle that is trespassing on property where it is not authorized to be. The rest of the existing towing and immobilization licensing, fee, and lawsuit provisions in the Code section remain in place.

What the bill does

Creates a new legal definition of 'wheel restraint' (a boot or lock attached to a wheel or tire) separate from other immobilization devices.
Removes wheel restraints from the existing definition of 'immobilization device,' so the rules that currently govern immobilization no longer automatically cover boots or locks.
Adds a new crime making it illegal for any person or any county or municipal government to attach a wheel restraint to a vehicle trespassing on private property.
Sets the penalty for violating the new wheel restraint ban at a $1,000 fine.
Leaves in place existing rules allowing towing, relocation, and other forms of vehicle immobilization on trespassing property, along with existing licensing and fee requirements.

Who it affects

Private property owners and managers who currently use booting or wheel-locking to deal with trespassing vehicles, towing and storage companies that install immobilization devices, county and municipal governments, and drivers whose vehicles are parked without authorization on private land.

Why it matters

If enacted, property owners and towing firms would lose the option of booting or locking a trespassing car's wheels, and anyone who does so, including a local government, could face a $1,000 fine. Other remedies like towing would remain available.

Key provisions

Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13 by adding a definition of 'wheel restraint' as a boot, lock, or similar device attached to a wheel or tire.
Section 1 amends the definition of 'immobilization device' to specifically exclude wheel restraints from that category.
Section 1 adds new subsection (g) making it unlawful, with a $1,000 fine, for any person or any county or municipal governing authority to install or attach a wheel restraint to an unauthorized vehicle on private property.
Section 1 keeps existing subsection (f) penalties of $1,000 fines for unauthorized automatic surveillance agreements and for paying property owners for immobilization or removal rights.
Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

Status timeline

2026-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2026-02-20Senate Hopper (Senate)

Votes

FailedSenate voteFebruary 24, 2026
23 yea, 28 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)
Motion To Withdraw And Commit: Senate Vote #570

Topics

private property law
vehicle towing
wheel boots
trespassing vehicles
local government regulation