DRIVERS will face higher towing fees after more than 200 towing companies claimed higher prices were needed to stay afloat.
The petition was granted – but driver advocates want other laws to be implemented to protect civilians.
3
3
Like many states, Massachusetts has limits on how much towing companies can charge in towing and storage fees.
The original intent of these laws was to prevent dishonest towing companies from falsifying tow reports or towing cars just to charge drivers astronomical fees to have their vehicles returned.
Many companies were found guilty of not allowing drivers to use credit cards and denying customers an itemized invoice when requested.
For a long time, drivers were happy knowing that their vehicles would not be improperly towed, only to be charged extra to get them back.
However, according to the Statewide Towing Association, an association that represents more than 200 companies, no one thought about how this would affect towing companies.
In 2020, the association asked the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to slightly increase costs to adjust for increased employee workload and an increase in equipment usage.
The agency, which oversees fees for “involuntary” tows performed by police to remove a disabled vehicle or vehicle on private property, denied the motion after the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MassPIRG) wrote them in opposition.
“The DPU should not consider any increases in towing fees unless and until it considers adopting long-overdue consumer protections,” wrote Deirdre Cummings, the research group’s legislative director, quoted by The Boston Globe.
Desperate to stay above water, the towing association requested emergency approval to raise prices, again citing increased demand for services and wear and tear on equipment.
The association presented data showing that its equipment costs have increased by 30% since 2017, while employee workloads have increased by 80%.
The maximum fee of US$108 was not enough to keep everything in order.
The motion was granted last month and the fee was increased to $132.
A DPU spokesperson wrote that the emergency increase was granted to “ensure there are sufficient services for police-ordered towing” during the coming winter.
MassPIRG is calling on the DPU to implement changes that protect drivers.
What to do if your car is towed
Unfairly or not, recovering a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are some steps you can take to get it back.
Steps to follow when your car is towed:
- Try to find out why your car was towed. Haven’t you seen a “No Parking” sign? Did you miss your car payment? Have you returned to a lot where there were unpaid citations? Finding the reason may narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some type of contact information via a posted or mailed sign.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but these times will be posted on the website or may be provided by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as quick as possible, as some towing yards may charge per-day storage fees.
If you believe your vehicle was improperly towed, you can dispute the action by following these steps:
- Be quick – many states have a small window of time in which it is acceptable to file a claim against a company that improperly towed your vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements, if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws, as laws for towing companies vary by state.
- Try talking to the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact your local Justice of the Peace as they may have more information or resources to help. They are often used for towing cases.
- Speak to a lawyer. Many lawyers offer free consultations and, depending on the case, it may be worth calling on a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak law firm
The organization wants drivers to be able to retrieve important items from their vehicles at an impound storage facility, even if they cannot or have not paid the storage fee.
This, says MassPIRG, will ensure that drivers can still get their child’s car seat, medication, identification information or house keys to their car.
They also call on the DPU to force towing companies to take photographs of vehicles before towing, to prevent illegal towing.
They also want the agency to ensure that companies cannot charge drivers anything other than towing and storage fees, since companies have been documented to charge “administration” fees.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
