Arlington County Board members voted unanimously to advertise changes to the county's trespass-towing ordinance and directed staff to study local fair-market towing rates. Vice Chair Matthew DeFerrante moved that the board authorize a Dec. 13, 2025 public hearing on amendments to chapter 14.3 of the Arlington County Code to update the initial hookup and towing fee and add placard requirements for tow trucks; the motion passed without opposition.

The board heard a staff presentation from Aaron Miller explaining the request to advertise and the Trespass Towing Advisory Board's (TTAB) August recommendations, which included increasing the initial hookup and towing fee to the maximum permitted under state law (Code of Virginia 46.2-1233), requiring towing operators to provide contracts on request, and allowing TTAB to review appeals of permit denials or revocations. Miller said staff is proposing to advertise the maximum allowable fee in the public notice to enable consideration of any rate up to that ceiling while continuing analysis and public comment.

"What staff is recommending is that as we go through the request to advertise and public comment period, that that information help to determine what a final recommendation be," Miller said.

Public comment urged improved outreach and transparency around the TTAB process and called out an alleged industry violator. Matt Chist told the board the TTAB webpage lacked recent meeting minutes and urged that any study justifying fee increases be made public; he also said one tow company had been found guilty of overcharging.

Board members said they supported a locally grounded study before setting any new fee. DeFerrante's motion included a direction that the county manager study the fair market value of the initial hookup and towing fee and report findings to the board on or before Dec. 13, 2025.

The board's action authorizes advertisement only; staff said a final decision on a specific rate will follow additional analysis, public feedback and any legal review. Miller and board members also committed to improving outreach mechanisms so vehicle owners, property owners and towing operators can provide input before final adoption.