One by one, disappointed and angry towing company owners walked out of the room Thursday as members of the city’s Beer and Wrecker Board set towing fee recommendations.
“I feel like they’re running my business now,” said Les Cantrell, owner of S&H Towing.
“I think Chattanooga ought to open up their own towing company and take care of it yourself,” James Hill, with Lucky’s Towing & Recovery, told the board, then walked out, cursing under his breath.
PDF: Proposed wrecker ordinance
Chattanooga is the largest city in Tennessee that does not have guidelines for tows from private property.
Towing companies now can charge any rate they want for private property tows. For towing services on public property or tows requested by police, the rate set by Chattanooga is $125 for daytime and $135 for nighttime tows.
Some private nighttime tows can cost $250 or more, based on the statements of some wrecker company owners.
“I don’t understand why you get paid more because it’s dark,” said board member Christopher Keene.
Mr. Cantrell cited areas in Brainerd, where he controls towing for 14 lots, noting that shootings and large gatherings have ceased after the lots were cleared of too many parked cars.
Proposed towing fees* Class A vehicles — standard vehicles such as most passenger cars and trucks: $125 day/$135 night* Class B vehicle — greater than 7,000 pounds but less than 26 feet long: $250 day/$285 night* Class C vehicle — vehicles larger than those in Class B and multiaxle vehicles: $425 day/$500 night* Storage fee: $20 per day* Processing fee: $15. Covers research and certified letter costs to send notification to vehicle owners after 10 days storage on the towing service lot.* Drop fee: $75. What the vehicle owner can pay to the tow truck driver to release the vehicle if it has not left the site where it was attached to the truck.
Mr. Hill said towing fees can add up because of late-night and early morning calls, equipment maintenance and insurance. Towing employees also must deal with threats from irate car owners who’ve been towed, he said.
“These people are just out and out breaking the law,” Mr. Hill said.
“This is the job you’ve chosen,” Mr. Keene said.
The board agreed on fees for various sizes of vehicles both day and night, and it will vote on the recommendations at its next meeting on April 1.
Under the recommendations, the name and address of the towing company and the city-set drop fee of $75 also would have to be posted on any tow truck. In addition, those calling for tows could not benefit financially from the towing.
If the board approves the proposed fee ordinance, it will go to the City Council for consideration.
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Article: Two truck owners meet with beer, wrecker board over fees