The Chapel Hill town council reinstated the town's towing ordinance yesterday with some modifications:
Quote:
Town Towing Ordinance Reinstated with Additional Signage Rules
The Council enacted changes to the Town towing ordinance, which it had been unable to enforce since May 2012 due to Court review. A court order today (Oct. 15) in Orange County Superior Court reinstates the ordinance including its rules on signage, acceptance of credit cards for payment of fees, and location of tow lots. Tow companies are now again subject to these regulations and have 60 days to comply with additional signage requirements. A court injunction that prohibits the Town's regulation of fees remains in place.
The additional changes to the ordinance made on Wednesday night require signs at entrances and at the curb cuts of private parking lots that tow vehicles. This addresses one of the common towing-related complaints received in Chapel Hill. Between August 2012 and June 2014, the Town received 54 towing-related complaints involving seven different tow companies. Thirty-two of those complaints were related to the cash-only payment practices of some tow companies. Twelve complaints were about inadequate signage to warn customers of the potential for being towed. Chapel Hill's reinstated towing ordinance will help address these complaints.
|