Hampton is creating a board to review the city’s towing rates and practices as towing companies have asked to be able to charge more per tow.
Last week, the council unanimously voted to create the board, which will be tasked with assessing whether any changes should be made to Hampton’s police-requested towing ordinance.
The city created a towing advisory board in 2000 to review towing practices at the request of law enforcement, but in 2011, the council determined that the board had served its purpose and disbanded it.
However, City Manager Mary Bunting said the city wants to revive the board to determine whether the city’s police-requested towing ordinance continues to reflect regional standards and “the best interests of the community.”
According to the city code, Hampton has a maximum fee of $125 for hookup and the initial towing for most vehicles, and a heavy duty tow fee of $285 for vehicles over 26,000 pounds.
This year, people affiliated with local towing companies turged the city to recreate the towing advisory board. Ashley Hall-Abbott of Asset Auto Recovery told the council during a meeting in April that “it’s been a while” since the city had reexamined its towing rates and regulations and urged the council to reestablish the board.
She said vehicle towers “simply wish to have some comprehensive discussion in regards to antiquated tow rates as most, if not all, Hampton Roads cities have increased towing rates, or are in the process of doing so, with the assistance of the prospective towing advisory boards.”
Newport News increased some of its towing fees last week, and Virginia Beach increased its fees in September. Virginia Beach fees range from a maximum charge of $200 for vehicles under 10,000 pounds up to $575 for vehicles 18,000 pounds or more.
Newport News maximum towing fees for light vehicles (up to 10,000 pounds) range from $150-$175 depending on whether the tow was from a private lot or by police. Fees top out at a maximum of $375 for heavy vehicles (over 18,000 pounds).
“Ours have not changed in a long, long time,” Bunting said of the towing fees. “The state code requires that if you’re going to look at that, you have to have a towing advisory board, and so we’re putting that in place so that we can do the review.”
Bunting said the council will likely select board members next month. The board will meet quarterly and will provide a report to the council within one year.
The board will have seven members: two from law enforcement, two from the towing and recovery business/profession, and the three remaining members from the general public. The board members whom the council will appoint will serve a two-year term, although the council can renew those terms if they determine there is still a need for a towing advisory board.
Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com
