Towing advisory board advances draft police‑authorized tow rules; seeks EV storage standards and fee schedule

Kathy Houston, chair of York County's Towing Advisory Board, told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 4 that the advisory board has met repeatedly since June 2024 and is close to finalizing rules and a fee schedule for police‑authorized light‑duty tows, and will next address heavy‑duty towing.

The board said it has completed most definitions and is preparing an ordinance that will include who may be placed on an approved rotation list, minimum response times, and a standardized fee schedule. The board plans double meetings in February and March to finish light‑duty policies and begin heavy‑duty standards.

Why it matters: the ordinance will govern police‑initiated tows — situations in which a motorist cannot select a tow vendor — and will set standardized pricing, response expectations and storage requirements for vehicles towed at law enforcement direction.

Public comments the towing board has received, Houston reported, include requests that towing companies on the approved list receive a property‑tax reduction, objections to heavy‑duty fee caps, requests that the county reimburse tow companies when an uninsured owner cannot pay, and concerns that the advisory board has a heavy law‑enforcement membership. Houston said the board limited membership following state law and used state code and sample ordinances from other jurisdictions when drafting definitions.

Assistant county attorney (Miss) Constantino explained the framework that will be used to draft a comprehensive ordinance covering definitions, vendor requirements for the rotation list, and the fee schedule. She said the rotation list will be voluntary; tow providers who ask to be on the county's rotation list must meet registration and equipment standards and have storage lots located in York County or in the City of Pecosin for certain geographies so citizens are not forced to travel far to reclaim vehicles.

Practical details discussed included a 30‑minute response requirement for light‑duty calls, longer time windows for heavy‑duty responses, and standardized additions for nights, weekends and holidays. The ordinance will also include dispute‑resolution procedures and a mechanism for citizens to file complaints about performance or billing.

Board members and staff noted unresolved policy questions, including whether and how the county could and should address situations where tow companies are left with unrecoverable costs (for example, when a vehicle is uninsured and the owner does not pay). Consultants and staff said they had not seen widespread examples of municipalities paying tow companies in those circumstances and pointed to statutory remedies such as liens on vehicles; the board said it would review those options as it finalizes the ordinance.

Ending: The towing advisory board will return with a fully drafted ordinance and recommended fee schedule for board review; the board asked staff to continue outreach and to bring the proposed ordinance back to supervisors for consideration.