[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6286589,"mediaKeyId","2557828-d1a4dddbada8fe3f95b648dc7f742f29","parentId",2557828,"title","Council committee debates ordinance to curb predatory private‑property towing and require licensing, signage and registration","audioSeconds",2750,"startMs",329000,"endMs",3079000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2557828-d1a4dddbada8fe3f95b648dc7f742f29&start=329&end=3079","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2557828-d1a4dddbada8fe3f95b648dc7f742f29/thumbnail_329000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6286589/Allentown-City/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Council-committee-debates-ordinance-to-curb-predatory-privateproperty-towing-and-require-licensing-signage-and-registration","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286589-88b319f2a0ba010b792dbed435b5d413/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191407&Signature=jUoIn4Bt2vlF-uqUbmnxbK6kcS4G56drY1kLcOr~V2Vm55MKtnyZGn04oQT8PW6sO4IU246rzwUuMp~B-2Sj1cTU6ksL976XuMyzKUJb7LmGdEr4MdnyCUVP8qzdc3aeuTRhMsl7h8EBJpe0edU7xftFuE3Ez3UjbHK83jCoqp9BzZN1EGCJakVderuQsWPBxU7cJOVm8319DvJOjKjBYohRi2GKdYotp91uj~TNvCzLRzetxHTLsbR1-dbREF2k83maYr4XI3zUzvCNes5O~hBiFpWoIy6nlXnzA26V5D9tWdUPknbSWE0GVRQYXDaLJjMq~uZk3g31FCB2Hp0GWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Allentown City, PA","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","Council members and public safety officials spent more than an hour discussing draft ordinance language aimed at preventing predatory towing from private lots in Allentown, with attention on consistent signage, tow‑operator registration, limits on drive‑around practices, and how to set fair fees for partial versus full tows.

Councilman Mike Napoli opened the item saying he had received multiple complaints and police reports of “predatory towing” that frequently targeted women and charged exorbitant fees, and he recommended strengthening the city’s private‑property towing rules. Napoli told the committee the proposed ordinance would not apply to city streets or Allentown Parking Authority lots but would affect tows arranged by private property owners.

“All of them say ‘your car could be towed,’ but many don’t list who to call,” Napoli said, arguing for a consistent signage requirement that names the towing operator and provides contact information. He also urged a registry of tow operators who are licensed and insured to operate in the city.

Chief Roca of the Allentown Police Department supported a reporting component so officers can quickly identify where towed vehicles were taken and confirmed the department will work with council on operational details. “It’s important that legislation is made to protect our citizens,” Chief Roca said.

Two people whose work intersects towing provided on‑the‑ground perspectives. Alex Tejara, owner of Tejara Towing, described operating costs for legitimate tow businesses and defended some cash‑only practices as protection against credit‑card disputes and fraud: “Our insurance cost is through the roof. Our equipment cost is outrageous. Our maintenance cost is crazy,” Tejara said, and he described a typical private‑tow fee he cited as $250 for a tow and about $75 per day for storage at his yard.

A resident who identified himself as Hunter described a personal encounter he said was predatory: “My car was hooked up on the towing bed. He told me I need to pay $425 in cash to get it off while I was still in the parking lot.” Hunter said he had searched consumer‑protection resources and could not find the tow operator listed there.

Committee members discussed a “decoupling” or partial‑service fee — a reduced charge when a tow operator is dispatched and the vehicle is not removed from the lot (for example, when the vehicle is hooked but remains on site). Members suggested setting that fee at roughly half of a reasonable full‑tow rate; Councilman Napoli recommended a decoupling fee equal to half the reasonable towing rate. City staff cited Easton’s ordinance as a starting model and said Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have different approaches.

The draft ordinance also would include penalties for violations and hold private property owners partly accountable when they contract with unlicensed or unreachable tow companies. Committee members discussed an enforcement path that could include fines and eventual suspension of a tow operator’s right to operate in the city after repeat violations; staff said the ordinance could allow suspension after repeated violations and that fines should be calibrated to state law’s requirement that fees be “reasonable.”

On payment practices, towing operators argued cash reduces exposure to disputes that sometimes lead banks to reverse merchant charges; council members expressed concern about cash‑only demands at odd hours and the hardship on customers who cannot obtain cash late at night. Operators said they typically release impounded vehicles during set business hours and may apply an after‑hours release fee.

No ordinance vote was taken in committee. Members directed staff to refine the draft language on required signage, registration of tow operators, decoupling fee calculation, permitted on‑site release hours, and enforcement mechanisms. Committee members requested follow‑up conversations with local tow operators and the police department to finalize the proposal before introducing a bill to the full council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Safety Committee on 2025-02-26","oneSentenceSummary","Council members and public safety officials spent more than an hour discussing draft ordinance language aimed at preventing predatory towing from private lots in Allentown, focusing on consistent signage, tow‑operator registration, limits on drive‑around practices, and fee rules.","taxTitle","Allentown City, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania","taxId",12607,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286594,"Committee approves forwarding $963,000 DOJ JAG grant appropriation for police equipment to full council",311,18000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2557828-d1a4dddbada8fe3f95b648dc7f742f29&start=18&end=329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2557828-d1a4dddbada8fe3f95b648dc7f742f29/thumbnail_18000.jpg","/articles/6286594/Allentown-City/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Committee-approves-forwarding-963000-DOJ-JAG-grant-appropriation-for-police-equipment-to-full-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286594-a5c961552deaf2dc24e76c2862225873/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191407&Signature=ei5ezSmtBaYzMDgkFy~PNuF58qCVcJqCOMEx553G86QpG6Jff2FKvfWjtKvpZ2eAQXkqS-EuuFVvukdmhli2P-ns0QWmXx4dI1wTHoRMev5kSLhjfWdernPAm1k24GKP0HyObPDe0d~zK4P~ly8gqumRZpJTP0Q9CI1G9YFdEIAbdjE3xb5Sunr0NhgQ9a1~U8qMG9jZeG9j1o0p04iGjVGRzwrpmeCryEDz7O8cxGznRFkI6y~0UAHx3i2ue01lBodEsNvJ~vwza4ctrxoX2PGu2o3VyiHRlkqZEdiRBlszRal6YUDBJqXqnRGkKJ9u78tLutnui7hd-LjTMMM-wQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Allentown Public Safety Committee on Monday voted to forward a supplemental appropriation that would add $963,000 in federal funding from a U.S. Department of Justice Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to the city’s 2024 general fund budget for police equipment and vehicles.

Chief Greas summarized the award and how it was obtained, saying, “This grant is an appropriations grant.” He told the committee the city worked with Congresswoman Susan Wilde’s and Senator John Fetterman’s offices on the request and that the funding became available after federal budget approval.

The grant package, as described to the committee, covers crime‑scene photography and computer technology, equipment for documenting serious accidents and crashes, training and first‑aid gear, one motorcycle to replace the department’s oldest active motorcycle (a 2007 model), six patrol vehicles and tactical equipment, and an additional solar speed‑radar sign and trailer the department uses in neighborhood requests. Chief Greas told the committee the award is “expense driven,” meaning the city must buy items first and then submit for federal reimbursement, and that “there’s no match to it.”

Councilmembers asked whether a recently purchased crime‑scene unit had been paid from the same award; staff clarified that the vehicle currently in the garage was purchased through the city’s prior budget and not this grant, but that the JAG request does include a pickup for accident‑reconstruction equipment.

Committee Vice President Mota moved to forward the appropriation to the full council; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Zukle and carried in committee for consideration by the full council. No roll‑call vote or tally was recorded in the committee transcript.

If council approves the appropriation and the procurement is completed, the city will proceed on an expense‑reimbursement basis under the terms described to the committee. Funding and project oversight will follow the usual city procurement and grant‑reimbursement processes.

The committee said staff and Police Department representatives will supply full budget account numbers and procurement details as the ordinance moves to council.","The Allentown Public Safety Committee moved a supplemental appropriation of $963,000 from a U.S. Department of Justice JAG appropriations grant for police equipment and vehicles to the full City Council. The grant requires no local match and is expense‑reimbursed.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286585,"Committee hears update on City Hall security upgrades; committee considers access cards, cameras and staffing",734,3117000,3851000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2557828-d1a4dddbada8fe3f95b648dc7f742f29&start=3117&end=3851","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2557828-d1a4dddbada8fe3f95b648dc7f742f29/thumbnail_3117000.jpg","/articles/6286585/Allentown-City/Lehigh-County/Pennsylvania/Committee-hears-update-on-City-Hall-security-upgrades-committee-considers-access-cards-cameras-and-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286585-f3a41d63634e60c1f7f1e1dc93de15bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191407&Signature=LezTTsBWZ~86yY6bS6IPKyGEdgw74iVfcOtEbn1Y44TkDplwql6alqgHdGQmiv6j1ztlWy2~mBP89gtpXBSV1qGRgGzLHcOUTufe2dwaVzk1NGDRGGZRVxHQdFv1QwM8u4Ur2YqseWCpw2xFD4ssGypMtX3rlPDwB0FvVkZkzRtzVqFIsyzxfyzUghPyFt13xw4qXO1dYBebZSCypaUlZcKfKBN5ji3dbGRtVKPPIGz9-1cuenHzpTDmROAXgOJ7-6eCxOW7QRDicawSgVTonz15-QXkhT22muyj84tnn6AeCanuLU~xTMg9YvgWTEcAndDvQ2nkjy0cVZ6DNAw-2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members discussed ongoing work to improve security at Allentown City Hall, including expanded camera coverage, visitor‑access cards for elevators, and potential on‑site security personnel or police presence during business hours.

Committee chair (identified in the meeting as Miss Alfa) opened the item, saying employees had reported feeling unsafe in the building and that camera installation had been prioritized. Alfa said, “We've had security problems for quite a while at city hall where a lot of employees do not feel safe.”

Fire and emergency management representatives and Chief Agosto participated in the meeting and said that physical‑security recommendations from a prior Homeland Security review are being considered across multiple city buildings, not only City Hall. Assistant and fire‑department staff clarified that access control can be added for entrances and elevators while preserving egress for fire safety: card access can limit who goes up to particular floors, but exit doors must remain usable in emergencies.

Committee members discussed the potential for a front‑desk visitor‑ID and daily visitor cards that would allow access to a single floor and would not work for other floors. Members also raised concerns about people entering with packages or openly carrying firearms — Pennsylvania is an open‑carry state — and discussed whether a security guard or a dedicated officer in the building during business hours would help staff feel safer. Chief Agosto and staff said employee training and security protocol updates should accompany physical upgrades.

Councilmembers asked for a fuller implementation plan and a report on camera coverage, elevator access control and staffing options; staff said they will provide a consolidated report once camera installation and vendor details are final.

No ordinance or staffing action was adopted in committee; councilmembers said they will continue to refine plans with administration and public safety staff.","Council members discussed recently added cameras, proposals to restrict elevator access with visitor cards, and possible dedicated security staffing after employees reported feeling unsafe in City Hall. No new policy was enacted; staff will provide further reports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council committee debates ordinance to curb predatory private‑property towing and require licensing, signage and registration

Committee approves forwarding $963,000 DOJ JAG grant appropriation for police equipment to full council

Committee hears update on City Hall security upgrades; committee considers access cards, cameras and staffing