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La Porte council holds first reading of tow-release fee ordinance; second reading set for Sept. 2
Summary
The La Porte Common Council held a first reading Aug. 18 of an ordinance that would create a tow-release services fee and a new police equipment nonreverting fund to receive the proceeds.
The La Porte Common Council held a first reading Aug. 18 of an ordinance that would create a tow-release services fee and a new police equipment nonreverting fund to receive the proceeds. Council President Franke moved the ordinance for first reading and asked that section 1(a) be omitted now and stricken before a second reading; the item was set to return at the council's Sept. 2 meeting.
The ordinance as presented sets a fee for certain tow-release services (the draft read a $250 fee for certain tow-release services) and a separate $1,000 fee for tow releases tied to violent-crime or vehicle-pursuit incidents. The text designates Fund No. 5509, a Police Equipment Non-Reverting Fund, as the deposit account and limits use of the money to equipment needs of the police department, including SWAT equipment as determined by the chief of police.
Police Chief Drangmeister told the council, "This isn't to be an extra cost to the law abiding. This is to deter criminal activity within the city. If you drink and drive, drive without a license, rob somebody, use your vehicle as an accessory, this is when it would apply to you." He added the ordinance would not require payment by victims who were not at fault in a collision.
Police Merit Commission president Michael Kellams expressed support, saying he was surprised such a fee was not already in place: "I when I read through this and we discussed it, I was a little surprised that it wasn't already in place. I just assumed that if you were towed for a criminal act, you would be paying, some sort of a fine." Councilors also noted similar measures exist in neighboring jurisdictions.
Council members discussed administrative burdens and inconsistent towing-hold practices with local tow yards; Chief Drangmeister said the proposed process would centralize the tow-release fee with the police department so tow yards would not have to handle varying hold reasons.
No final vote on the ordinance was taken; the council scheduled the second reading and further consideration for the Sept. 2 meeting.
The council's next action on the measure will determine whether the fee structure or fund language is revised before final adoption.
