North Charleston pulls in new towing law

North Charleston City Council unanimously adopted new rules for towing companies Thursday.

Citizens had complained about price-gouging, and the city responded with an ordinance that takes effect July 1.

Towing companies on the city's rotation list must charge based on the time it takes to tow after they are called. They can no longer charge extra fees for items such as cleaning the road of debris, righting an overturned vehicle or pulling someone out of the mud.

Towing companies can charge no more than $150 per tow for the first hour and $25 for each quarter hour after that. Daily storage fees are $25.

Numerous other rules, such as being at the scene within 30 minutes, also apply to towing companies, and if they are found out of compliance, they can be removed from the city's tow rotation list. The list is maintained by the police department.

Councilman Bobby Jameson pointed out that the ordinance only applies to non-consensual tows, meaning those initiated by a law enforcement officer after a wreck, breakdown or arrest. Prices could be higher or lower for someone who breaks down and calls a towing company on his own.

This is the first time the city has written new rules for towing companies since 1981.