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The LaGrange City Council has approved an update to the city’s towing ordinance that includes increased block towing rates.

Block towing rates are only for when motorists have a wreck and ask the police to have the vehicle towed or when officers have a vehicle towed from the side of the road, like with a DUI. Motorists can alternatively contact a tow company independently and negotiate for a potentially lower towing rate.

The rate changes were requested by the local towing association, which asked for them to be updated because of their increasing costs.

LaGrange Police Chief Garrett Fiveash said the original request was for state pricing plus 30%. He said LPD negotiated that down to 20%, but the council ultimately came to a consensus on 10%, which was in the first reading of the ordinance on Jan. 28.

The council also agreed to an increased rate for electric vehicles for their inherent risk, especially the vehicles damaged and in the containment process for storage.

“It takes extra for towing these vehicles because it’s not just as simple as backing up to it and pulling it up on the wrecker like it is a regular vehicle. You do have to jack all four tires up and put them on dollies. It’s a lot more work involved,” Fiveash said.

City Manager Patrick Bowie said that after the first reading last time, city staff met again with Terry Stanford to discuss the ordinance and a few minor tweaks that were recommended.

The language for the accident cleanup fee was clarified to be consistent with processes that were already in place. Similarly, the administration fees for abandonment of vehicles and the notifications required by state law were also clarified.

Bowie said that tying the rates to the state rates for tractor-trailer storage resulted in a decrease, so it was returned to the previous rate.

An after-hours fee of up to $71.50 was also added to properly compensate for when tow company workers have to get out of bed to tow a vehicle.

The proposed rates are as follows for two-axle vehicles: 

4 $250.80 per tow for light-duty vehicles (up to 10,000 lbs)

4 $429.00 per tow for medium-duty vehicles (over 10,000 to 20,000 lbs)

4 $643.50 per tow for heavy-duty vehicles (over 20,000 lbs)

4 $100 Cleanup fee following an accident to render the roadway safe 

4 $36.30 per day storage fee for vehicles 

For electric vehicles: 

4 $329.00 per tow for vehicles without damage with a $66 storage fee per day

4 $702.00 per tow for vehicles  with damage, a $315 storage fee per day

 

For vehicles with more than two axles, the storage fees are $75 per day per truck and $150 per day per combination unit, and the wrecker services fees, including clean up, are:

4Truck with no trailer – $643.50

4Truck with empty trailer – $1,215.50

4Truck with loaded trailer – $1326

 

The updated ordinance was approved unanimously as a substitute ordinance for the one previously first read. The new ordinance was also unanimously approved after a second reading.