NC House bill would crack down on predatory booting and towing more
Drivers in North Carolina may see more of a crackdown on predatory towing after state lawmakers filed a bill that would create new rules for booting and towing companies. More people complain to Action 9 about these businesses than almost any other.
Kyrah Radney says she thought she picked a parking spot in South End that was OK. But she says when she returned to her car, she saw not one boot but two, and a hefty bill to get them off.
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“He was like, ‘It will be [$]250, but we’re saving you a deal because, if we towed you, it would be [$]350,’ she told Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke. “I’m wondering how they came up with their pricing.”
Radney says she didn’t want trouble, so she paid the $250, but that it still eats at her. “I’m thankful that I had that to pay that, but I know that a lot of people wouldn’t have [$]250 on hand to get the boots off their cars.”
North Carolina lawmakers are considering a bipartisan House bill addressing predatory booting and towing.
If it becomes law:
- Companies would need a permit to do this kind of work and would be required to get it renewed every year. “You have to have more training and certification to be a barber in the state of North Carolina than you do a tow truck driver,” the bill’s primary sponsor, N.C. Rep. Laura Budd (D-Meck. Co.) told Stoogenke. “Just pause a second and think about that piece.”
- Every time companies booted or towed a vehicle, they’d have to put certain information into a database, including the address where it booted/towed the vehicle, address where it stored the vehicle, fees, name of the owner/supervisor who authorized the boot/tow, name of the person who booted/towed the vehicle, reason, and vehicle information.
- Companies would have to post clear signs about the parking rules.
- They couldn’t tow your ride more than 25 miles away.
- The bill would create a commission. “The commission that we’re setting up will set the maximum rates for the type of tow,” Budd said.
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Budd also says the towing and truck industries support the legislation.
The City of Charlotte has towing rules, but this bill goes further in a lot of ways and would apply to the entire state.
If it passes, it would go into effect on Dec. 1.
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