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Resident tells council towing of handicapped parking spot cost hundreds; mayor pledges to raise concerns with police leadership
Summary
At the May 21 meeting resident James Shaw described having his wife's handicapped parking space towed during a period when she was home recovering, said mailed notices arrived late, and said court fees and towing cost him roughly $600; the mayor said towing is discretionary and promised to discuss the incident with police leadership.
Resident James Shaw addressed the council during public comment on May 21 to describe a February incident in which his wife's handicapped parking space was towed while she was home recovering from knee replacements.
Shaw said the vehicle's registration had lapsed because mailed notices arrived late, that the car had snow on it and had not been moved, and that when he retrieved the vehicle he found several tickets plus towing and impound fees that, together with court costs, amounted to approximately $600. "They towed a car with a handicap placard out of its spot," he said, and he asked whether a wellness check could have been performed before towing.
Council members and the mayor responded that towing is discretionary. The mayor said the police "don't have to tow it" and that enforcement could be handled without towing; he said he would raise the matter with the police chief and the traffic lieutenant to seek clarification about policy and discretion.
The exchange ended without a policy change; the mayor committed to discussing the matter with police command to encourage compassion and discretionary checks in appropriate cases.
