Birmingham city leaders hope to draft ordinance to fight "predatory towing" concerns

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

The city of Birmingham is taking action against what some call predatory towing. Parking can often lead to getting towed. Now, city leaders are hosting a town hall to address concerns.

The town hall was about hearing concerns from the community — with many bringing issues to the city council’s attention for the first time.

“In this system, the towing company is the judge and the jury,” Matt Lyons, who had his car towed, said. “And they are deciding a punishment that is disproportionate to the crime.”

It’s a negative experience some said too many people in Birmingham have experienced while parking in the city — being towed.

“A few days ago, while I was out picking up lunch, within 10 minutes, my car was towed,” Latasha Simpson, who had her car towed, said.

That’s why the city hosted a town hall Wednesday night to find solutions to help drivers when they make simple mistakes.

“We’re trying to achieve a balance here where we’re not being too heavy-handed on regulating how paid parking lots operate or how towing companies operate,” Darrell O’Quinn, District 5 councilman and transportation committee chair said.

City leaders said among those solutions requiring parking companies to create clear and recognizable signage along with creating customer service expectations for towing companies and requiring employees to identify themselves.

James Sasser has also had a bad experience with parking.

“I was in a different car from what I’d had in the app initially,” he said. “I hadn’t changed it to my new car.”

This mistake cost him nearly $200.

“I could show the tow operator that I paid for parking,” Sasser said. “I called the parking enforcement the next day but there was no relief whatsoever.”

Many stories were shared by people at the town hall. They believe they are being preyed upon.

“I understand that there are rules that you need to abide by and I’m willing to do that, but $160 for 10 minutes is excessive,” Simpson said. “It’s very excessive.”

O’Quinn said the next step in the process is sending the ordinance to committee. From there, it’ll be recommended to the full city council but that likely won’t happen until August.