State lawmakers are considering capping how much tow companies can charge to move vehicles that are parked illegally or abandoned.
Nationwide, 27 other states have a maximum fine for towing, but Vermont doesn鈥檛.
Lawmakers also commissioned the state鈥檚 Attorney General鈥檚 office to for things like storage fees and transparency around rates.
鈥淔rankly, a huge part of the initiative here was to determine, 'how do we strike a balance between what is reasonable and not reasonable in the scope of towing,'鈥� attorney Christopher Curtis told lawmakers at a hearing earlier this month.
鈥淵ou're not seeing BMWs and Teslas lose titles to the vehicle because somebody just left them at the lot.鈥�Christopher Curtis
Curtis estimated that hundreds of Vermonters lose their vehicles every year after getting towed because they can鈥檛 afford to pay the storage fees to retrieve them. Cars left in tow lots for three weeks are retitled.
鈥淵ou're not seeing BMWs and Teslas lose titles to the vehicle because somebody just left them at the lot,鈥� Curtis said.
Lawmakers also want to ensure towing companies are adequately paid for their work.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to shut them down. We want to make sure they鈥檙e able to make money,鈥� said Rep. Michael Marcotte of Newport, a Republican who chairs the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.
The Attorney General鈥檚 report recommends a maximum of $125 per tow for passenger vehicles and $25 per day for storage fees, while on tow fees and $20 storage fees.
This story was produced in collaboration between 开云体育 and the Community News Service. The is a student-powered partnership between the University of Vermont鈥檚 Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program and community newspapers across Vermont.
