New Seattle effort underway to curb outrageous towing fees

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and Councilmember Nick Licata
are launching a new effort to curb exorbitant towing fees,
after the state Legislature failed to restrict them during
the last session.

Currently, there are no limits companies can charge for
impounds. Under the proposal unveiled Monday, standard impounds would be
capped at $156.75 and storage rates limited to $15.50 for
up to 12 hours. Sales tax and an impound fee, yet to be
determined, would also be applied.

“This proposal protects Seattle visitors and residents
from predatory towing fee policies,” said McGinn. “After
performing extensive outreach to all stakeholders, we
believe it is fair to all parties, including towing
operators.”

The move is just the latest effort to limit towing fees
after several high profile stories in the past year,
including one Seattle man’s saga of an $800 tow and
impound.

“We want to make sure that when they take possession of
them, it’s not going to be reduced to extortion to get
back your car, but is a more reasonable penalty,” Licata
says.

Currently, there are no limits companies can charge for
towing cars seized from private property.

Licata says he and others have been in talks with a number
of groups, including the towing industry in an effort
strike a balance.

“I think we’ll arrive at a final amount that will be fair
to everyone,” Licata said.

The proposal will be formally introduced Tuesday to the
Seattle City Council. It also creates a number of new
guidelines including requiring background checks for truck
operators, making personnel available to the public 24×7
to release an impounded vehicle and the clear posting of
signage regarding fees and vehicle recovery.

The new rules would also let consumers remove or retrieve
personal property or possessions from a vehicle, either at
the scene of a tow or at a vehicle storage facility prior
to payment. Under the proposal, tow companies and tow
truck cannot charge a fee for or refuse to allow this
retrieval.

The program is expected to begin in Jan. 2013 if
approved by the City Council.