THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 1996 TAG: 9605150453
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
Despite protests from some towing companies, the City Council re-regulated the city's towing industry Tuesday.
As a result, if your car is towed against your will, you will pay no more than $60 for the tow. Storage fees of $10 per day will be assessed after the first 24 hours under the council plan, which takes effect immediately.
Over the last year, while the industry was deregulated, towing fees sometimes topped $100.
If the car owner returns before the tow truck has pulled away, the driver will be charged $15; but if the owner does not have $15, the tow truck may leave and charge the owner the full $60. Towing companies cannot charge an extra fee for using a dolly to move a vehicle.
The city used to regulate towing companies and had set fees at $40 to $50 per tow. In late 1994, Congress decided local communities couldn't regulate towing any longer, so the city dropped its rules. Then, late last year, Congress changed its mind and allowed states and communities to re-regulate.
The city attorney's office and the Towing Advisory Board have spent months working up new regulations and proposing new price restrictions on tow truck companies.
Two members of the Towing Advisory Board said the new regulations and rates are fair for now.
``I think this will be good for the city of Virginia Beach,'' said Art Walker, owner of Art Walker's Auto Service and Body Shop in the Lynnhaven area and a board member.
``Fees could stand to be a little higher,'' added David Friedman of Century Towing Services.
But towing companies need to prove themselves for a year or two, before asking for higher rates, Friedman said. by CNB