Oxford Proposes Stringent Regulations on Towing Companies
In an attempt to address rampant concerns over the practices of some local towing companies, the Oxford Board of Aldermen is mulling over an ordinance amendment. This proposal aims at providing stringent oversight over the towing of vehicles from both public and private property. Mayor Robyn Tannehill shared several email complaints she has received from upset town visitors and parents of University of Mississippi students during the Tuesday meeting.
Avenues of Complaint
Mayor Tannehill shared that she often receives complaints about towing companies’ practices in the city. One notable instance she cited involved a student who had left his vehicle parked at his complex over winter break. On his return, the student found his car towed due to an alleged flat tire, leading to a cash only payment demand of almost $2000 from the towing company.
Safeguarding Vehicle Owners
The proposed ordinance amendment underscores several key changes aimed at protecting vehicle owners. Foremost, it prohibits towing any vehicle from a public street without a go-ahead from a law enforcement officer or the vehicle owner or authorized driver. Furthermore, it obliges tow companies to receive permission from property owners or approved personnel before towing a vehicle from private property.
This new regime strives to keep tow companies and property owners accountable by necessitating that they maintain thorough records of every authorized tow. Moreover, both the towing company’s records and the property owner’s records must be available for examination by the Oxford Police Department upon request.
Price Caps and Transparency Measures
In the proposal, clear guidelines are also put forward to cap towing fees. A maximum price of $200 for towing light-duty vehicles from private property and a storage fee of $30 per day, provided the vehicle remains in storage for at least 24 hours, are outlined. In addition, towing companies must keep towed vehicles in their impound lot for 10 days before relocating them- any relocation fees are strictly prohibited.
The proposed ordinance plans to enforce transparency measures, including mandatory reporting of any towed vehicle to the Oxford Police Department within an hour. It also mandates clear, visible signage specifying potential towing on private properties.
The Road Ahead
This amendment proposal represents the first reading. A public hearing on the matter is slated for 5 p.m. on April 16 at City Hall. The full proposed ordinance is available for perusal on the city’s official website.