Committee continues towing‑fee ordinance after questions about notice and rate changes

The Richmond City Public Safety Standing Committee voted to continue consideration of an ordinance that would amend city code for towing and storage fees charged when vehicles are removed from private property. Committee members said they received the proposal with less than the committee’s usual notice and requested more time to review the fiscal impacts.

Lynn Lancaster, General Services, presented the paper and described the proposed changes. Lancaster said the towing and storage rates had not been increased for seven years and that the state increased its rates effective January 2025. Lancaster summarized the key numeric changes: “We’re increasing from $1.35 to $1.95” for the cited fee (private‑property trespass fee), the after‑hours tow fee would increase from $25 to $30 for tows occurring between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m., the 24‑hour overnight storage maximum would move from $45 to $50, and the maximum administrative fee for vehicles held over 72 hours would increase from $50 to $75. Lancaster also summarized an after‑hours release fee “not [to] exceed $35.”

Lancaster said the towing advisory board met on Aug. 7 and recommended the proposed code amendments. She said private‑property towers had sought parity with the state rate (the state rate cited in the presentation was $2.10) but the advisory board recommended $1.95.

Committee members raised procedural and policy questions. One member said the committee received the paper less than 24 hours before the meeting and asked the administration to provide committee materials earlier. Members asked whether the increased fees would go to the city or to private operators; Lancaster said the fees “all goes to the operators. This has nothing to do with the city's contract with Cybert. This is totally different. This is private prop tows from private property.” The presenter also said a lobbyist for private tow companies had approached council months earlier to request a rate increase and that the towing advisory board had been working on the proposal since July.

After discussion, a motion to continue the ordinance for 60 days passed; the item was continued to the Nov. 25 Public Safety Standing Committee meeting. Committee members recorded aye votes during the roll call (Ms. Abubaca and Chair Trammell were recorded as aye in the excerpt). No members of the public spoke for or against the item during the committee public hearing.

Why it matters: the ordinance would set maximum fees private tow operators may charge for tows from private property and would update several amounts and timeframes in the city code. Committee members said they wanted more time to review the proposal before forwarding it.