Title
To amend Section 2107.06 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, pertaining to impounding fees and storage charges.
Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance amends Section 2107.06 of the Columbus City Codes to increase the fees charged for towing and storage of vehicles. The last increase occurred in 2001. Since that time, numerous costs, associated with the towing and storage of vehicles, have increased. Also, this increase will place the City's rates for towing and storage more in line with rates charged by other jurisdictions in Ohio.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no costs associated with this ordinance. The City will realize additional revenue of approximately $880,000 from the Parking Violations Bureau/Police Impound Lot as a result of the increase in towing and storage charges. Revenue will be reduced by approximately $60,000 by allowing a one-time reduced rate for stolen vehicles. The net effect would be an overall increase in revenue of approximately $820,000.
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to regulate tow trucks that contract within the City and tow trucks operated by the Division of Police; and
WHEREAS, stolen vehicles will be charged a one-time per owner reduced rate of $55.00 per vehicle; and
WHEREAS, the Police Division attempts to contact owners of stolen vehicles prior to impoundment; and
WHEREAS, approximately 45%-50% of stolen vehicles are return to the owners before impounded by the City; and
WHEREAS, the City of Cleveland offers a reduce rate for stolen vehicles; and
WHEREAS, even after this increase in fees, the City of Columbus fees will be lower than Cincinnati's, Cleveland's, and many suburbs of Columbus general towing and storage fees; and
WHEREAS, there is no provision in the city code as it relates to larger commercial vehicles weighing more than twenty thousand (20,000) pounds; and
WHEREAS, an increase in fees charged and collected by the Parking Violations Bureau and private towing companies is necessary due to increased operational costs of wrecker equipment, labor, and storage facilities, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That existing Section 2107.06 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, be and is hereby amended to read as follows:
2107.06 Impounding fee and storage charge--Exceptions.
(a) No vehicle impounded under the provisions of this chapter, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) hereof, shall be removed from such vehicle pound except upon the payment by the owner, chauffeur, driver or other person in charge of such vehicle, of a service charge of seventy dollars ($70.00) ninety-five dollars ($95.00) to the parking violations bureau of the city treasurer for any motor vehicle weighing not more than seven thousand (7,000) pounds. There is no additional fee charged if a dolly or rollback is required to tow said motor vehicle to the vehicle pound. A service charge of one hundred dollars ($100.00) one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) shall be paid to the parking violations bureau of the city treasurer for an motor vehicle weighing more than seven thousand (7,000) pounds but not more than ten thousand fifty (10,050) pounds. A service charge of one hundred forty-five dollars ($145.00) one hundred seventy dollars ($170.00) shall be paid to the parking violations bureau of the city treasurer for any motor vehicle weighing more than ten thousand fifty (10,050) pounds but not more than fourteen thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (14,999) pounds. A service charge of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) shall be paid to the parking violations bureau of the city treasurer for any motor vehicle weighing more than fourteen thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (14,999) pounds. In addition to the rate set forth above for all motor vehicles, an additional hourly fee may be charged for extra services that are required in connection with towing said motor vehicles such as to upright an overturned vehicle, clean excessive debris from the roadway, recover a vehicle not on the traveled portion or berm of a highway, or to separate vehicles or pull a vehicle from an obstruction, an additional hourly rate will be charged. This additional charge will be at the following rates:
1. Seventy dollars ($70.00) Ninety-Five dollars ($95.00) per hour for vehicles weighing seven thousand (7,000) pounds or less.
2. One hundred dollars ($100.00) One hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per hour for vehicles weighing more than seven thousand (7,000) pounds, but not more than ten thousand fifty (10,050) pounds.
3. One hundred forty-five dollars ($145.00) One hundred seventy dollars ($170.00) per hour for vehicles weighing ten thousand fifty (10,050) pounds but not more than fourteen thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (14,999) pounds or more.
4. Fees for vehicles weighing over fourteen thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (14,999) pounds are as follows:
a. Hourly Charge after 30 minutes is $63.00 per quarter hour.
b. Extra manpower fee is $30.00 per hour per worker.
c. 4-wheel drive wrecker fee is $95.00 per hour.
d. Crane Fee is $250.00 per hour.
e. Heavy Duty Service Truck fee is $95.00 per hour.
5.4. A fee of seventy dollars ($70.00) ninety-five dollars ($95.00) may be added if a trailer dolly is required due to the trailer not being attached to a tractor.
A storage fee of ten dollars ($10.00) fifteen dollars ($15.00) per day for each twenty-four (24) hours, or fraction thereof, shall be charged for vehicles with a gross vehicle rating less than ten thousand fifty (10,050) pounds. A storage fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) per day for each twenty-four (24) hours, or fraction thereof shall be charged per vehicle and per trailer with a gross vehicle rating of ten thousand fifty (10,050) pounds or more. (Ord. 2808-90; Ord. 80-02 § 4.)
(b) Any stolen vehicles that have been recovered and impounded by the police pending notification of the legal owner or agent shall be subject to a reduced the impounding fee of $55.00 and/or the applicable storage charge. However, the storage shall be charged beginning the fourth day after impoundment, provided the legal owner or agent has been notified, or notification has been sent to the last known address of the owner or agent. The reduced impounding fee of $55.00 for a stolen vehicle is a one-time reduction per owner. Subsequent impounding fees related to stolen vehicles shall be at the normal impounding rate.
(c) Any vehicle weighing less than seven thousand (7,000) pounds of which has been impounded for the sole purpose of "safekeeping" and from which the driver or operator has been removed due to illness or injury shall be subject to the impounding fee and storage charge. However, the storage fee shall be charged beginning the fourth day after the date of impoundment. Any vehicle weighing seven thousand (7,000) pounds or more and/or a commercially registered vehicle which has been impounded for the sole purpose of "safekeeping" which the driver or operator has been removed due to illness or injury shall be subject to the impounding fee and storage charges. Additional service fees incurred for all vehicles other than towing and storage will be assessed the owner or agent thereof and shall be paid before the vehicle is released.
(d) The owner of a vehicle that has been removed from the streets, sidewalks or public grounds pursuant to Section 2107.01 of the city codes and that has been determined by the violations clerk to be a victim of violent crime against person or other special circumstance shall not be held liable for the payment of any fees associated with the towing and/or impounding of said vehicle. (Ord. 854-01 § 1 (part); Ord. 1230-01 § 1.)
SECTION 2. That existing Section 2107.06 of the Columbus City Code, 1959, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.