The Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board looks to rein in towing fees with an upcoming recommendation to the city council.
During this morning’s bi-monthly meeting, the board discussed recommendations for the city council to place limits on private towing fees.
Chattanooga police Officer John Collins told the board he receives a flood of complaints from residents who’ve paid between $250 to $400 when their vehicles are towed from private property such as restaurant parking lots.
Officer Collins told the board that police “would cite the company for excessive fees in city court” if higher fees were charged once an ordinance passed.
Currently there is no set limit on what towing companies can charge motorists when the remove a vehicle.
The board will review Knoxville and Nashville policies and bring a recommended policy to the city council, which would have the authority to write a city ordinance.
The Knoxville and Nashville ordinances set towing fees at $75 to $85 with additional fees for storage, cleanup or removing the vehicle on the spot if the owner arrives before it’s been towed.