(a) A towing service may charge a fee of up to $40.00 for towing an abandoned motor vehicle from public property under the provisions of sections 2151-2157 of this title. This fee shall be paid to the towing service upon the issuance by the Department of Motor Vehicles of a certificate of abandoned motor vehicles under section 2156 of this title. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall notify the Commissioner of Finance and Management who shall issue payment to the towing service for vehicles removed from public property. Payments under this section shall terminate upon the payment of a total of $16,000.00 for towing abandoned motor vehicles from public property in any fiscal year. A towing company shall not be eligible for more than 50 percent of this annual allocation.

(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles is authorized to expend up to $16,000.00 of the Department's annual appropriation for the purpose of this section. (Added 2005, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 53.)