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Ombudsman raises concern over tow fees when criminal charges are later dismissed
Summary
The associate ombudsman told the rules committee the office has been asked to revisit towing practices after residents whose criminal charges were dismissed still faced tow fees; the office has begun conversations with the law department but has no recommendations yet.
The assembly's ombudsman office reported that it has re‑opened a long‑running review of towing practices after members raised constituent concerns about tow fees that remain payable even when related charges are dismissed.
"There's a concern that people who have had their vehicles towed and then later have their charges dismissed," Heather McAlpine, associate ombudsman, told the committee. She added an example: those charged with serious traffic offenses who go to court and have charges dismissed "and yet they're still on the hook for the tow fees, which can come up to almost a thousand dollars." The ombudsman's office said it met with the Municipality's Department of Law to start conversations but had no formal recommendations at this time.
The ombudsman's office said towing complaints have recurred for more than a decade and that staff intend to gather additional information before proposing changes. The office asked committee members for input and said it will return with findings after further review.
Why it matters: Tow fees can create substantial financial hardship for residents when fees remain after a related case is dismissed. The ombudsman emphasized the lack of a current recommendation and said the office is in early stages of investigation.
