Bowling Green City Commission votes to pass ordinance regarding towing prices
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – On Tuesday, the Bowling Green City Commission discussed a proposed ordinance that has many in the community talking, revolving around an amendment to the City’s Code of Ordinances regarding towing.
Fountain Square Towing is suing the City, claiming they are not able to dictate how much businesses like theirs can charge to do towing.
Alan Simpson, who represents the company in this suit, says they’ve given the city an out: simply not passing the ordinance. He says they’ve chosen not to take it.
“So we have challenged the current ordinance, and if that is successful then obviously the new ordinance will also be unlawful, and Mr. Nash will be fit to set prices as he deems appropriate for his business model,” Simpson says.
Citizens that commented on the proposal during the commission meeting have many questions though, on both sides of the spectrum.
“Who is responsible for ensuring that the companies with private lots and the towing company that they contract with comply with your ordinance? Because I’ve been given the runaround in speaking to several different people throughout this community on how to address this,” Rae Anna Kirby says.
Even fellow towing businesses are weighing in on how this could affect the city and their competition, saying this proposal likely won’t make any changes to how they conduct their business.
“The business plan for me is about 20% private property towed… but when you have one company that’s business plan, and I’m not against him for this, this is his business plan… his business plan is to concentrate on the private property sector in Bowling Green,” Shannon Doyle, owner of Two Brothers Towing, says.
Simpson adds if this passes, it could set a bad precedent for what the city could do in the future.
“There’s free parking that’s provided in the parking structure. There are designated parking places all over downtown… and then there are parking places that you’re not supposed to park because the people who own the land, the private property owners, don’t want cars parked there, and that’s their prerogative. It’s their land. Where will they step to next? Rent control? Are they going to dictate what you can charge for a car wash, or getting your dog groomed or your nails done? That’s just not the American way,” he says.
But in the end, one downtown business owner sums up what some in the community may be thinking.
“This can be solved. We can be a welcoming community. They can get paid, they can have a job,” Heather Kessler of Down Dog BG says.
After a closed session, the city voted to pass an amendment that would reduce the retrieval amount from the towing yard. That amount, originally at $175, will be reduced to $125.
However, if someone arrives as their car is being towed, the price drops to $75.
This would also place a cap on boot removal at $50, eliminate the $25 after-hours fee and lowers the maximum credit card fee from $10 to $5.
Companies would also be required to either boot a vehicle or tow it. If the former is chosen, it could not be towed unless it is considered an abandoned vehicle.
This will require a second vote before becoming official. News 40 will keep you updated as we learn more.
