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Mount Vernon holds first reading of towing ordinance to raise fees for criminal tows
Summary
On first reading, the Mount Vernon City Council considered an update to towing procedures that would raise towing fees tied to arrests and criminal matters — $500 for serious offenses and $100 for minor offenses — with Police Chief Robert Brands clarifying it does not apply to accident or breakdown tows.
The Mount Vernon City Council held a first reading March 2 of an ordinance updating the city's towing procedures and associated fees.
City Manager Nathan McKenna introduced the proposed ordinance and Police Chief Robert Brands answered council members’ questions. Chief Brands said the city's existing towing ordinance is outdated and proposed raising fees tied to arrests and criminal matters: serious or felony-related tows would rise to $500 and minor offense tows to $100. He said the proposal is intended to align Mount Vernon’s ordinance with other communities and comply with state law, and noted towing fees had not increased in more than 15 years.
Council Member Donte Moore asked whether the proposed change applies only to tows involving criminal matters; Chief Brands clarified the change applies to arrests and criminal matters and does not cover broken-down vehicles or accident-related removals. The item was presented as a first reading only; no vote to adopt the ordinance occurred at this meeting.
Because this was a first reading, the council did not finalize the fee changes; further action, including possible amendment or a second reading, would be required before any fee increase takes effect.
