The cap on what towing companies can charge for involuntary towing in Wilmington might disappear.
The agenda for Wilmington City Council’s next meeting–Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.–includes a tweak to lift that cap in light of a court ruling that conflicts with local policy.
The specific cap in question is $100 on involuntary towing of vehicles from private lots.
“The N.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that while cities have the authority to regulate towing within their borders, they can’t put a cap on private towing fees,” a bulletin from the city’s communications office said Friday.
That was a case against the Town of Chapel Hill, decided in June, that determined that town didn’t have the power to put a fee schedule on “nonconsensual” towing at private lots.
Caps would remain, though, for towing from public streets or highways following law violations–for instance, if a car is in a “no parking” area. That’s $100.
The cap to tow a car from the scene of a wreck is $150.
The same cap applies to the towing of junked cars or those posing a threat to health or safety.
Click here to view the city council’s full agenda.
Its meeting will take place in Wilmington City Hall, 102 N. Third St.
