Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Contact: Mary Curtius 703-228-7943 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Arlington Board Adopts New Towing Ordinance
Includes new consumer protections
Arlington, VA --- Drivers in Arlington now have stronger protections against unscrupulous towing practices. The Arlington County Board today adopted a new amendment to the Arlington County Code to protect citizens from unfair towing and pricing practices when trespassing motor vehicles are towed from private property.
"After working on this for years, I'm pleased that a change in Virginia law has given Arlington the authority to help protect drivers from abuse by tow companies," said Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette. "While most tow companies operate responsibly, citizens have complained for years that a few operators have behaved in an unscrupulous manner. This ordinance is meant to put a stop to those abuses by putting in place clear regulations that all must follow."
Key provisions of the new ordinance
- New fees: The new ordinance sets fees for the towing, storage, and safekeeping of vehicles towed without the consent of the owner. The fees will be as follows:
- $100 for towing a motor vehicle
- $40 maximum per 24-hour period of storage, or portion thereof, for storage of a towed motor vehicle after initial 24 hours
- no storage fee may be charged for the first 24 hours of storage or any portion thereof
- Consumer protection: The new ordinance includes a number of provisions to significantly enhance information available to drivers whose vehicles are towed; to require storage lots to remain open; to require photographic evidence of the location and the condition of the vehicle at the time of the tow; greater options for payment and assurance that cash is available to make change; and itemized receipts.
- Provisions for removal: The new ordinance requires police notification, photographs, and other documentary evidence prior to a tow.
- Police notification: The new ordinance requires -- immediately prior to a tow -- notice to the Arlington County Police; identifying the vehicle; identifying the location to which the car is to be towed, and providing the name of the individual who authorized the tow.
In fashioning the ordinance, the Board considered the recommendation of the Advisory Board on Trespass Vehicle Towing and the views of towing companies, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and individuals who submitted comments and suggestions. To read the Board report on the ordinance online, click here.
Background
In May 2006, the Arlington County Board created the Advisory Board on Trespass Vehicle Towing to review provisions recommended for the new ordinance. >Read the release.
In December 2004, the 18,000 member cities of the National League of Cities adopted a resolution -- proposed by Arlington County Board member Jay Fisette -- calling on “the President and Congress to enact the State and Local Predatory Towing Enforcement Act…which will give states and localities full authority to regulate the towing industry.” The legislation was proposed by Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th). >Read the release.
Since 1995, when Congress dissolved the regulatory body that oversaw the towing industry, the industry has been without federal, state or local regulation – except for localities’ ability to regulate the price of “non-consensual” towing.
In December 2003, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office took strong enforcement action against an Arlington-based towing company for multiple instances of overcharging. >Read the release.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
