Commissioners direct county attorney to draft towing, immobilization and complaint-deterrent ordinance changes

The Hillsborough County Board on June 4 directed the county attorney to draft changes to the county’s trespassing, towing and immobilization-rates ordinance to comply with recent state law changes and to clarify consumer protections and enforcement tools.

Commissioner Harry Cohen said the amendments will update local rules on methods of payment and occupational licensing and “is not a fee increase.” He made the motion to send draft language to the county attorney’s office; Commissioner Joshua Wostel seconded. Commissioner Chris Bowles offered a friendly amendment asking legal to provide options to strengthen code-enforcement deterrents for citizens who abuse complaint processes; Cohen accepted the amendment and the board approved the item 6-0.

Cohen noted the item does not address a separate $250 immobilization charge currently before a judicial forum, and he said the ordinance rewrite is intended to align the county’s code with state requirements and protect consumers using towing services.

Bowles suggested including options to discourage frivolous or abusive complaints that waste county resources, comparing it to existing processes for 911 or repeated fire-alarm calls. The county attorney’s office agreed to incorporate the amendment and return a draft ordinance for future consideration.

The motion recorded no fee increases and directed staff to work with code-enforcement and legal counsel on draft language consistent with state law and local enforcement needs.