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Police present ordinance to cap nonconsent tow rotation list; council adopts
Summary
Council considered ordinance 02026-07 to set a rotation list cap for nonconsent tows to reduce police administrative workload. Chief Jason Hayes said contracted wrecker companies assume costs and vehicle disposition, with the city incurring costs only when a vehicle must be held as evidence. The ordinance was adopted.
The Weatherford City Council on Feb. 10 adopted ordinance 02026-07, establishing a capped rotation list for nonconsent tows to reduce administrative work for the police department.
Police Chief Jason Hayes told the council the change is intended to limit the number of vendors on the city’s rotation so department staff can focus on law enforcement duties rather than the repeated inspections, certificate issuance, sticker processing and driver checks associated with a large rotation list. “The biggest thing is the administrative lift because our team has to inspect all the records, inspect all the properties, issue all the certificates, issue all the stickers that go on the records, and also check all the drivers,” Hayes said.
Council members asked how costs are handled for nonconsent tows and whether private citizens can request removal of vehicles. Hayes said contracted wrecker or recovery companies take possession of impounded vehicles and typically contact owners and manage disposal or sale if owners do not reclaim vehicles; the police department does not generally absorb those costs. He added an exception: when a vehicle must be retained as evidence in a case, the city would compensate the contracted company because the vehicle would not go directly to the yard and normal vendor processes would not apply.
On citizen requests, Hayes said residents may call the police to report parking or traffic complaints. Vehicles can be stickered for violations or operability problems, and if they meet criteria (for example remaining on the roadway in violation for more than 48 hours) staff will arrange for a nonconsent tow.
The ordinance was considered during the consent/regular agenda sequence and was approved by the council. The vote tally was not stated on the record.
The change is intended as an administrative streamlining measure for the police department; the council did not attach additional funding or program directives at the meeting.
