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Proposal to raise towing-storage rates fails to get a second; Commission defers tariff overhaul
Summary
A commissioner read a sweeping motion to change towing-storage rates, add recovery-definitions and higher complicated-recovery fees; staff said some language was new and needed review, the motion received no second and the Commission deferred the docket for staff review and stakeholder comment.
Commissioner Scetta proposed a substantial rewrite of the towing and recovery general order, including new storage-rate mechanics, definitions for "standard" and "complicated" recoveries and new hourly fees for complicated recoveries. "I move that the storage rates remain at the current rates for the first 5 days then thereafter triple the current rate for storage days 6 through 30 and afterwards revert back to the current rates for storage on day 31 and beyond," the commissioner read into the record.
Staff witness Tammy Burrow told the Commission that while parts of the storage proposal had been discussed, much of the wording Commissioner Scetta read was new to staff and had not been digested. Industry representatives said they had worked with staff on some definitions but that the newly introduced text needed time for review. Because the motion to adopt those changes received no second, it died on the floor.
Commissioners then considered the staff recommendation. After industry comment and a call for additional time to review the newly introduced language, the Commission agreed to defer action on the towing docket to the next meeting so staff could prepare a redline and solicit stakeholder feedback.
Why it matters: The docket concerns regulated towing and recovery rates, storage practices and operational definitions that affect tow companies, vehicle owners and emergency-recovery operations. Commissioners emphasized safety and clarity in definitions (for example, water recovery and rollover scenarios) and said definitions could affect rescue response times.
What happens next: Staff will review the motion text, prepare track-changes for interveners and bring the item back next month for further consideration.
