Potential changes to how much towing companies can charge in Chattanooga could save area motorists hundreds of dollars.
At its meeting Thursday, the Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board agreed to recommend an ordinance setting maximum towing fees on wrecker services.
There now is no set rate for towing charges in Chattanooga, police Sgt. Mark Haskins said.
But Chattanooga alcohol compliance Officer John Collins told the Beer and Wrecker Board that police receive regular complaints from motorists about the fees, which can range from $250 to $400.
“There are some wreckers that lay in wait for people to park,” he told the board.
The board discussed the change at its bimonthly meeting Thursday. Board members plan to review Knoxville’s and Nashville’s ordinances, which set initial towing rates at $75 to $85 with additional fee options.
With no fee structure in place in Chattanooga, towing companies “are going to take advantage if you don’t close that loophole,” board member Ron Smith said.
Les Cantrell, owner of S&H Towing, charges $150 for daytime private property towing and $175 to $250 for night tows.
“Anytime you hook up to a car, you’re liable for anything that happens to that car,” Mr. Cantrell said in a telephone interview.
Sometimes irate owners cause fights, even pulling weapons on wrecker drivers, he said.
With nearly half of his work in private towing, Mr. Cantrell said, lowering rates to $75 or $85 would hurt his business.
County and highway towing rates are $125 during the day and $135 at night, and Mr. Cantrell said setting the city rate at the same level would be more acceptable.
The board agreed to review the ordinances and forward recommendations to the City Council in time for the law to take effect before the Riverbend Festival in June.
Board member James Hobbs said a few companies charging exorbitant rates have forced the board to look more closely at the issue.
“I want them to come up here and justify that,” he said during the meeting.
Kenny Burke, owner of Cain’s Wrecker Service, does few private property tows.
“Private property tows are probably a necessary evil of the wrecker business,” he said. “Some of the bills I’ve heard from other people are too much money.”
Mr. Burke said there does need to be some regulation of towing fees, but if the rate were set as low as $85, he would no longer do private tows.
Currently, he charges $150 for such towing service.