Department:

City of Seattle

Department of Finance and Administrative Services Rule No:

Private Impounds-01-2022

Supersedes:

Clerk File 321941

Publication:

3/31/2022

Effective:

5/4/2022

Subject:

Maximum Private Impound Fees

Code and Section Reference(s):

SMC 6.214.220

SMC 6.214.360 (rulemaking authority)

Approved:

Division Director

Business Unit Officer

Calvin W. Goings, Department Director

____________________

Date

Date

Date

City of Seattle Tow Company Rules

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Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 6.214.220 requires the City of Seattle to adjust certain maximum private impound fees during the first quarter of each year.

1. The maximum towing service fee, storage fee and uncompleted tow fee shall be as specified in SMC 6.214.220 and shall be adjusted by the Director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) or his or her designee (the Department Director) for inflation, by rule, during the first quarter of each calendar year as follows:

(a) Towing service fee and uncompleted tow fee. These fees shall be adjusted annually based upon the preceding year's percentage change in the annual Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Transportation, or a successor index hereto, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(b) Storage fee. This fee shall be adjusted annually based upon the preceding year's percentage change in the annual Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Transportation, or a successor index hereto, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, provided that any such adjustment in the storage rate shall not result in a storage rate that exceeds the maximum daily storage rate allowed under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.55.118(1)(b).

2. After-hours release fee. This fee may be adjusted by the Department Director upon written findings that reasons to do so exist. The Department Director shall consider the number and frequency of after-hours releases, the effect of the fee on consumers, the costs to tow companies and any other factors related to after-hours releases. In considering those factors, the Department Director has chosen to keep the fee at its existing rate.

3. The current maximum private impound fees are shown in the following table:

Fee Type 2021 Maximum Fee Consumer Price Index, Seattle Area

(February 2022) 2022 Maximum Fee

Towing service (first hour)

$218.35

19.2% $260.28

Towing service (each subsequent hour per 15-minute period)

$38.96

($155.83 per hour) 19.2% $46.44

($185.75 per hour)

Storage (per 12-hour period)

(e.g., 1 min to 12 hours = maximum fee; 12 hours, 1 min to 24 hours = 2 x maximum fee)

$32.40

19.2% $36.45

Uncompleted tow fee (per 15-minute period; time computed from time of dispatch of tow vehicle to time of release)

$54.59 19.2% $65.07

After-hours release (for a vehicle release outside of normal business hours)

$100.00 Not applied $100.00