Florence council hears complaints of ‘predatory’ towing; staff to revise ordinance

Council members on Thursday pressed city staff to act after residents and local councilors described repeated instances of private tow operators charging far more than city limits and holding towed vehicles at off-site lots.

Councilman McCall said he has received complaints alleging drivers were charged “almost double the maximum amount,” including instances where, “when the cap is $170, they’re telling them, ‘you pay me $300.’” McCall listed multiple constituent names and urged staff to stop what he called predatory practices that disproportionately affect young drivers and other vulnerable residents.

Interim Chief Starling and other staff said the city is reviewing its towing ordinance and working to align city code with state law, including changes to notification requirements between private tow companies and the police department. “We are currently putting together those amendments and working on the areas that we can align better with the state law,” staff said, adding that the code provides for charging both the tow operator and the business owner if the ordinance is violated.

Council members asked for clarity on the fee schedule. Staff confirmed the daytime cap in city ordinance is $1.35 (reported in the meeting transcription as a unit) and an additional after-hours fee of $35; staff also described a separate rotational tow list used for law-enforcement-directed tows that follows South Carolina Department of Public Safety rates.

Officials said the next step is drafting ordinance language for the finance committee and the city attorney to review before returning to council. No formal ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; staff said enforcement is possible now if citizens report suspected overcharges and predatory practices.