Council OKs two as‑needed towing contracts amid debate over fees and late‑night safety

The Tuscaloosa City Council approved two as‑needed towing service contracts during its business session and fielded questions about how towing fees, after‑hours charges and late‑night vehicle releases affect public safety and residents. The contracts authorize: (1) an as‑needed service contract with David Robertson Griffith Service and (2) a secondary as‑needed contract with Austin Towing LLC to provide towing when the primary contractor cannot respond. Council members and staff detailed how contracts and fees work. Police staff said contracted ‘‘per tow’’ rates apply for contract pickups; one example given for the primary contractor was $92 per tow, while the secondary contractor bid $115 for the same service. Rotation to noncontract towing—for arrests or on‑scene breakdowns—was described as higher, roughly $185, and additional release or storage fees may apply if an owner does not retrieve a vehicle promptly. Council members asked whether fees include routine escalators; staff said rates are flat until the council votes to change them. The council also heard that some operators request an explicit policy to limit after‑hours releases at large events and to address credit‑card surcharge practices. Safety concerns for towing employees were raised. Staff and council members recounted an incident a few years ago in which an employee of a local towing company was injured while working on the strip; the employee required hospitalization. One speaker said that if a customer arrives to retrieve a vehicle at 3:30 a.m., sending a tow operator alone could be unsafe and suggested restricting releases to daylight hours or establishing a safer process for late‑night releases. Staff said they are reviewing related documents and will present proposals to council members. Council action: A motion to approve the first as‑needed contract was called and carried; a subsequent motion to authorize the secondary contract with Austin Towing LLC also passed. Staff said the secondary contract provides redundancy in case the primary contractor cannot respond. What remains unresolved: Council members requested staff return with more detail on fee structures, any proposed changes for after‑hours releases and credit‑card fees, and documented safety practices for tow operators. The council did not adopt any new fee schedule or operational policy at the meeting.