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Home My WebLink About040406 TowingTOWING IN THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING APRIL 4, 2006 TOWING IN VIRGINIA BEACH Consensual-Accidents/Breakdown Non-Consensual-Illegally Parked Public-Streets/Parking Lots/Garages Private Parking Lots TOWING VOLUMES Summer 2005 (May-September) Non-Consensual 3201-Private 3782-Public Two Year Total Tows 2004-2005 37,744-Private 30,852-Public 68,596-Total PURPOSE OF BRIEFING Identify Problems Examine State and Local Laws Summarize Legislation Propose Solutions PROBLEMS WITH NON- CONSENSUAL TOWS Tow operators only accept cash, and they require exact change Lack of Information Vehicle owners-especially tourists-may not know: •Where their automobile has been towed •Who to call for information •Whether they need exact change •Where to find an ATM LACK OF COURTESY BY TOW OPERATORS No Consequences for Rudeness TOW SURVEY PROCESS INADEQUATE Not all tow operators are forthcoming with survey forms Current database lacks precision needed to determine relevant trends Limited consequences for violations of City Code provisions and policies Current survey process is ineffective PROBLEMS UNIQUE TO PRIVATE LOTS Predatory Cruising Property owners are not required to call and specifically request that a vehicle be towed Blanket authorization allows tow companies to tow at will, even when the business served by the lot is closed Inadequate Signage Signage in some lots not visible at every entrance PROBLEMS UNIQUE TO RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREAS Inadequate Signage Signs lack information that might deter one from parking illegally •Signs do not advise of cost of fine, tow or impoundment fees Signs lack information on how to retrieve towed vehicles RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT SIGN CITY OPTIONS UNDER STATE LAWS State Law Gives the City Four Options with Respect to Towing: The City may rely on the State to regulate all aspects of towing, including towing practices and fees; The City may regulate towing practices, but let the State set fees; The City may regulate towing fees, but let the State regulate towing practices; or The City may regulate both towing fees and towing practices WITHOUT LOCAL REGULATION A vehicle towed from Virginia Beach could be impounded in another city Lot owners would not be required to include on lot signs the cost of the tow, name of business that owns the lot, and whether parking is restricted to certain persons, such as customers Lettering on signs could be of any size, and signs could be made of any material Tow operators would not be required to notify police within 30 minutes of a tow, and failure to notify would not subject the tow operator to prosecution PENDING LEGISLATION Enable localities to prohibit predatory cruising by requiring written authorization at the time the vehicle is towed. Ordinance could curtail kickbacks by excluding anyone with a financial interest in the towing company from authorizing tows. Establish a statewide towing board to regulate towing. POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS Towing Information Line Access towing database Advise callers of •Location of vehicle •Cost to retrieve •Types of payment accepted •Locations of ATMS •Taxi Information Advise how to obtain towing survey/lodge complaint Police Personnel on site at Oceanfront REQUIRE ALL TOW COMPANIES TO PROVIDE CHANGE AND REQUIRE ACCEPTANCE OF CREDIT CARDS FOR PUBLIC PROPERTY TOWS Strengthen city code to explicitly require change be provided Police Department can require tow companies to accept credit card payments for tows from public property ADD INFORMATION TO CITY SIGNAGE Contact number in Residential Parking Permit Deterrent information ENHANCE SURVEY FORM DISTRIBUTION AND FOLLOW UP Forms and contact information distributed to police staff, operators of lots and garages, businesses from whose lots vehicles are towed Prosecute towing company violations of City Code Aggressively use removal from police towing list ADOPT PROVISIONS OF NEW TOWING BILL Proposed ordinance includes provisions authorized by the new legislation to curtail predatory towing and kickbacks RECOMMENDATIONS Refer towing ordinance to towing advisory board Seek Council input Councilmember Towing Concerns and Proposed Solutions April 4, 2006 ConcernsPrivate LotsPublic LotsRPP Areas Accept cash Amend City Code to require tow operators to provide 1.Amend City Code to 1.Amend City Code to require tow only; no changerequire tow operators to operators to provide change changeprovide change 2. Amend police wrecker list 2. Amend police wrecker list criteria to require acceptance of criteria to require acceptance credit cards of credit cards Who to call Create pamphlet with towing information, including N/AAdd 311 city information number for 311 number (tow company contact information (city information number to RPP area signs informationalready required on signs)already on signs) Enact City Code provision to require specific written N/AN/A “ Predatory authorization from businesses and address issue of (police-requested only)(police-requested only) cruising” kickbacks Inadequate N/AN/A Redesign signs with additional signage(signs already required at all entrances)(informative signage properly information, including 311 number posted) Lack of 1.Police courtesy patrol and CSOs to be source of Amend police wrecker list Amend police wrecker list criteria courtesyinformation and assistancecriteria to permit removal to permit removal because of lack because of lack of courtesyof courtesy 2. Distribute informational pamphlets (including costs, 311 information number, how to find where vehicle has been towed, accepted forms of payment, location of ATMs, taxi phone numbers, how to lodge a complaint) 3. Business that contract with towing companies will be informed of complaints