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Committee forwards Bill 28 to council seeking clearer private-property towing rules
Summary
The Public Safety Committee advanced Bill 28 to the full Allentown City Council. The measure would add procedures and signage standards aimed at limiting predatory towing from private property and require clearer identification of tow operators.
The Allentown City Public Safety Committee voted to forward Bill 28 to the full City Council after a briefing on proposed rules to regulate towing from private property.
Bill 28 would amend the administrative code to create a uniform framework for private-property towing procedures and standards for property owners and tow operators. Committee discussion and testimony described problems with inadequate signage on private-property lots, tow companies that did not clearly identify themselves on trucks, and limited existing accountability for predatory towing practices.
"The proposed changes that were put forth for the towing, I think, is absolutely appropriate," said Chief of Police Michael Roca, describing the measure as a step to "put a kibosh to those who are doing predatory towing." Vice President Mota and Councilmember Napoli, who brought the issue forward, said they had updated signage requirements in the draft and removed property-owner names from posted signs to reduce the risk of retaliation.
Napoli said the ordinance changes focus on private property owners who contract with tow operators and that the amendments include clearer signage standards for property owners. The committee noted an example in which the ordinance was modified so tow companies must be notified of unlawful parking unless signage specifies a clearly defined restriction (for instance, "no overnight parking").
No members of the public spoke in opposition; committee members voted to forward the bill to the full council for additional consideration.
Votes at this committee meeting: the committee voice vote to forward Bill 28 was recorded as in favor; no roll-call tally with individual member votes was recorded in the committee transcript. The ordinance will next be scheduled for full council consideration.
