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City staff review possible increases to private towing/impound fees; committee seeks safeguards for residents
Summary
Police and finance staff presented options to adjust rates for private nonconsensual tows and to require companies to submit financial data; councilmembers and public commenters raised concerns about predatory towing and impacts on low-income residents.
Assistant Police Director Rick Brailen presented the committee with an update on private nonconsensual towing (tows from private property without owner consent) and the city’s current fee schedule, and outlined scenarios and next steps for a potential fee adjustment.
Brailen told the committee that current San Antonio rates for light-weight tows are $177 (as shown on the presentation) and that Texas allows municipal regulation of such fees. He summarized a 2023 towing-industry cost submission showing a three-year average margin of 17% compared with a 9% margin used in the 2013 fee model. Staff proposed to work with towing companies and the finance department to develop a recommended fee adjustment based on projected operating costs for FY2025–26 and to present…
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