§ 162-227. Fees charged for non- consensual motor vehicle towing.

(a)

Any towing or storage firm engaged in the business of providing nonconsensual motor vehicle towing services shall not charge the owner or operator of any towed motor vehicle a towing and/or storage fee in excess of the maximum amount allowed by the State of Georgia, pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 44-1-13, Georgia Public Service Commission Transportation Rule 11-1 of $125.00, and as it may be changed from time to time; however, no storage fees shall be charged for the first 24-hour period from the time the motor vehicle is removed from the property. The fee for towing and/or storage shall be all inclusive; no additional fees may be charged for using dollies, trailers, lifts, slim jims or any other equipment or service.

(b)

The fees referred to in paragraph (a) above shall be payable by cash, personal check, debit card, or major credit card, including but not limited to Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, at no additional charge.

(c)

Nonconsensual motor vehicle towing fees and storage fees shall be established annually by the city council, after receiving recommendations from the department of finance based on financial information submitted by the nonconsensual motor vehicle towing firms, as to their current costs for the removal and storage of vehicles and personal property, and on other information. That information, as well as supporting and quantitative information, shall be submitted by nonconsensual motor vehicle towing firms by October 31 of each year to the chief financial officer.

(Code 1977, § 14-9014; Ord. No. 2000-59, § 2, 11-14-00; Ord. No. 2001-21, § 1, 3-12-01; Ord. No. 2001-32, § 1, 5-15-01; Ord. No. 2005-70, § 1, 11-14-05; Ord. No. 2009-07(08-O-2033), § 1, 2-11-09)