I think I’ve previously mentioned that working in local government often affords the opportunity to delve into matters about which one might not otherwise cogitate. A phone call last week reminded me of just such a topic; towing.
Assembly members and other folks at the Municipality of Anchorage receive periodic communications from folks who’ve had their vehicles towed. Usually these folks are, of course, unhappy about the tow but generally even more upset about the treatment and/or fee structure imposed by the towing company. And they’d like some kind of redress. Before digging into that it’s useful to understand the different categories of towing:
The most likely reason that most complaints stem from the latter category is something referred to as “predatory towing,” instances where tow operators prowl private lots looking for anyone parked illegally. Unlike public-property tows, fees are entirely up to the operator as long as they’ve submitted said fee schedule to the Clerk’s office, which then posts them on-line. Because the Clerk’s office lacks sufficient personnel to regulate the industry we hear tales of operators charging vehicle owners for things like being angry at being towed. (And there are plenty of stories of greater woe.)
So, what to do? Adding a regulatory scheme is one option, though it’s not clear where we could find the resources or how effectively we could provide enforcement. Another idea, one I’m growing to like, is to require the property owner or their representative to sign a form authorizing each tow performed on their lot (and the representative couldn’t be the owner or employee of the towing company). My thinking is that requiring active participation of property owners/managers would dramatically reduce the incidence of “predatory towing” and, with it, most of the complaints.
But I’m curious what readers think? Do you have a story to share? If so, do you expect a change like I’ve proposed would address your situation? Are there better ideas out there? I’d like to know more.
Regards,
Patrick
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I like the idea of active participation by a property owner or their designee. That also gives the person whose vehicle was towed a real person to contact besides our esteemed assembly members.
Comment: Tim – 22. August 2011 @ 9:24 pm
I thought the private property owner had already agreed to let the towing company on their property to enforce the property owners rules. Thus the only one who isn’t cooperating would be the visitor who hasn’t followed the rules of the private parking lot. The private property owner may lose visitors who disagree with the enforcement and go other places. This seems to take caree of itself. Maybe fees should be reviewed.
Comment: Matt Burkholder – 23. August 2011 @ 5:09 pm
Property owners must take responsibility for what tow companies and their employees do. I have witnessed tow truck drivers with both firearms and pit bulls in the cab with them. They intimidate car owners. And the price for release of an auto depends upon whatever they think they can extract from the owner.
Comment: friend43 – 24. August 2011 @ 2:04 pm
I own a tow compay in anchorage that performs private property impounds. Imagine for a second that you own an apartment building located next to a busy bar, restaraunt or business and there is constantly people parking on your property creating problems for you and your tenants in a variety of ways. So you seek out a tow company to catch these violators who ignore your signs and park on your private property. Problem solved right? Well not so fast you now have to drive down to your property at all hours of the day and night to sign a piece of paper giving the tow company permission to tow ILLEGALLY parked cars for the same reason over and over again. After the first time you do this it is completely REDUNDANT!!! Definition of redundant: exceeding what is necessary.
The only people this law could possibly benefit are the law breakers. Don’t punish the property owner or tow companies. It’s real simple guys DON’T DO THE CRIME DON’T PAY THE FINE. Tow companies would be out of business tomorrow if people just wouldn’t break the law.
The reason why tow companies charge so much is because your average tow company in anchorage does maybe 50 impounds a months. Last month we did just under 60 with only about 45 of them being retrieved the rest are pretty much junk removals. My costs for my yard, insurance, fuel,
wages, truck maintenance, misc. are 12k-13k a month just for impounds. That means if i charge $288 for each impound i break even which is why i charge $375 in my opinion its a modest price. If i didn’t do impounds i wouldn’t need a huge expensive yard or a receptionist to sit there all day which account for about 7k oof that total. Not to mention you have to pay the drivers more just to do them because every time they do an impound they put there safety on the line like i did when i got jumped by a group in mt. view last year because they were drunk and pissed they were being towed for no permit. It’s a nasty business and if it was regulated to the point i couldn’t make a decent living i wouldn’t do it. I got into the business to tow cars. Not to impound them but it’s the part oof the business i tolerate in order to be successful.
Comment: Nick – 24. September 2011 @ 2:12 am