Rental car companies: electronic surveillance technology.

Existing law generally governs the transactions between a rental company, also referred to as a rental car company, and its customers. Existing law prohibits a rental company from using, accessing, or obtaining any information relating to the renter's use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except under specified circumstances. Existing law, until January 1, 2028, authorizes a rental company to activate electronic surveillance technology if the rental vehicle has not been returned following 72 hours after the contracted return date or by 72 hours following the end of an extension of that return date. Existing law requires the rental company to provide notice of activation of the electronic surveillance technology 24 hours prior to activation, as specified. Existing law, except as specified, requires the rental or lease agreement to advise the renter that electronic surveillance technology may be activated if the rental vehicle has not been returned within 72 hours of the return date. Existing law requires the advisement to also be made orally to the renter at the time of executing the rental or lease agreement, except as provided. This bill would delete the January 1, 2028, sunset date, thereby extending those provisions, as further revised by the bill, indefinitely. The bill would decrease the time that a rental company must wait after the contracted or extended return date before activating electronic surveillance technology to 24 hours. The bill would specify that the oral advisement shall be made if the transaction is completed in person or by telephone.