Need a car towed in Pensacola? (FL)

[TowNews]

That might soon cost more as towing rate rises by 76%

Towing rates for non-consensual towing could increase by 76% in the city of Pensacola to match Escambia County's lowest towing rate, but the City Council wasn't willing to cede control of towing rates to the county Thursday night.

The Pensacola City Council voted 6-1 to increase the maximum fee a tow company can charge for a non-consensual tow from $85 to $150.

 

In March, the Escambia County Commission approved a new ordinance that increased the towing fee for most cars in the county from $100 a day to $150 a day and increased the cap for storage from $20 a day to $40 a day. The county's ordinance also pegged the towing rates to the federal consumer price index to change each year with inflation.

 

Like Escambia County, Pensacola had not changed its rate since 2009.

 

Lissa Dees, parking manager for the city, told the council that towing companies are often hesitant to respond to calls for tows or wrecks in the city because the rate is so low.

 

Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson's administration initially proposed an ordinance that would have gotten rid of the city's cap on towing rates of $85 and matched it with the county.

 

Tow increase:Escambia County OKs 50% rise in towing rates, inflation to determine future rate changes

 

Stuck in 2009:Escambia County tow truck owners seek rate increase after being frozen for 11 years

 

Spending plan:An early look at how Pensacola plans to spend $19.1 million in federal COVID relief funds

 

The county's ordinance is much more complex than the city's, setting different rates based on the size of the vehicle, though the $150 rate applies to typical cars.

 

The City Council rejected that idea and instead opted to keep the city's own cap, increasing it to $150 on any vehicle regardless of size.

 

The council opted not to change its cap for storage, which is currently at $10 a day.

 

"I think we have to be really careful about ways that we actually build inequity," Councilwoman Teniadé Broughton said.

 

"So what's happening here is someone got into a car accident, and they have to move the car. … I just think that being considerate of making them also have to pay, now not $85 but $150 is a poor example of an equitable outcome for certain people."

 

Council President Jared Moore said he agreed with Broughton about inequity, but also said that has to be balanced with allowing a business to operate and perform a needed service without losing money.

 

"I think $85 is not a lot of money to have a big specialized piece of equipment," Moore said.

 

Moore said he supported going to the county's ordinance because he believed the county commissioners had to weigh the same factors as the council members when considering a rate increase.

 

Councilwoman Ann Hill put forward a compromise to raise the rate to $150, but not cede control of the rates to the county. Her amendment passed 4-3 with Broughton, Moore and Councilman Casey Jones voting against it.

 

The final version of the ordinance passed 6-1 with Broughton as the only no vote.

 

The ordinance must pass a second vote next month before going into effect.

 

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