City of Oxford Takes Firm Action Against Predatory Vehicle Towing Practices
In a recent development, the City of Oxford has put an end to predatory vehicle towing with the unanimous passage of a new ordinance. Effective from 30 days following the successful vote held on Tuesday, the newly adopted law is a bold step to protect vehicle owners, particularly local residents, parents of the University of Mississippi students, and visitors, who have expressed their concerns about the predatory practices of local towing companies.
Ordinance to Curtail Predatory Towing
The ordinance’s inception stemmed from the numerous complaints received by the mayor and aldermen about several local towing companies’ vexing practices, including unknown and fluctuating fees, and inadequate signage at apartment complexes outlining rules. The ordinance, which faced both opposition and support during a public hearing in April, will now significantly regulate the operations of towing services in the area.
Aims and Provisions of the Ordinance
One of the main provisions of the ordinance forbids towing any vehicle from public streets without prior authorization from law enforcement officers, vehicle owners, or authorized drivers. Furthermore, it stresses that towing from private properties necessitates a request from the respective property owner or an authorized employee. To ensure transparency, both the towing company and the property owner are required to diligently keep records of who authorized each tow.
As per the new law, all records relating to the towing should be readily available for inspection by officers from the Oxford Police Department when required. This includes both the records held by the towing service and the property owners.
The ordinance also includes a clause prohibiting towing companies from offering financial returns to property owners in exchange for towing permission. Moreover, all towing vehicles are mandated to have licenses as well as comprehensive liability insurance coverage with limits not less than $750,000; $25,000 on-hook coverage per vehicle, and Garage Keepers liability insurance of $25,000 per location.
Maximum Rate and Mandatory Signage
The ordinance also takes into account the cost of towing services to the public. It sets the maximum rate for towing from private property at $250 for a light-duty vehicle, with an added cost of $45 for daily storage after 24 hours. Moving forward, there can be no storage fee charges unless the vehicle has been in storage for a minimum of 24 hours.
Emphasizing the clarification of rules and costs, the law enjoins property owners to put up apparent signage – not less than 24×24 inches – explaining the rules and fees about vehicle towing. Besides, every towing company will be obligated to keep any towed vehicle in its impound lot for ten days before potentially moving it to a facility outside of the city limits but within Lafayette County.
Reporting Towed Vehicles
Lastly, all towing services must promptly report any towed vehicle to the Oxford Police Department within an hour of towing the vehicle. This provision aims to keep law enforcement abreast with the operations of towing services and ensure public safety.
The full details of the approved ordinance are available for public viewing on the city’s website.
