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After public complaints, Vero Beach council directs staff to change towing and parking payment procedures
Summary
Following public complaints about large towing and lien-release fees and situations where vehicles were towed the same day, the city manager and police staff said they will change procedures to allow more time before towing, require proof of any lien before charging a release fee, and add credit-card/online payment options; council asked for a status update at the next meeting.
Council members raised concerns about cases in which residents and business owners were required to pay hundreds of dollars to retrieve towed vehicles, and about the inability to pay by credit card at the time of release. A council member cited a case with a total due of $578.68 after multiple unpaid parking tickets and booting, and called the existing cash-or-check requirement “egregious.”
City manager and police staff described three follow-up actions: (1) require evidence of a properly filed lien before collection of a lien-release fee, (2) change towing policy so that a vehicle booted for unpaid tickets will not be towed until an additional deadline (the end of the next business day) to reduce immediate tow-and-charge outcomes, and (3) implement credit-card and online payment options to increase collection and reduce predatory outcomes for drivers who cannot pay in person.
Council requested a status update at the next meeting; staff agreed to report back on implementation steps and timelines.
What it means: The city intends to modify operational procedures with the police department and finance staff to reduce punitive outcomes for late or unpaid parking tickets and to modernize payment methods.
Next steps: City manager to coordinate with finance and police to implement online/credit-card payments and amend towing procedures; staff to report progress at the next council meeting.
