City of Seattle Tow Company Rules

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Background

Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 6.214.220 requires the City of Seattle to adjust the maximum private impound fees during the first quarter of each year. It further specifies that the fees shall be adjusted based upon the preceding years' percentage change in the annual Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton consumer price index or successor index thereto.

Director's Rule CPU-04-2015 outlines the means and methods used to calculate and update the maximum private impound fees. This rule updates the maximum private impound fees for 2018 by utilizing the Federal Bureau of Labor and Statistics index fund to calculate the consumer price index rate increases since February 2015.

Maximum Private Impound Fees

Rule

1. The maximum private impound fees shall be as specified by SMC 6.214.220 and shall be adjusted 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 published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics;

(b) Storage fee. The maximum storage fee that tow companies may charge for storing a private impound vehicle shall be no more than $30.37 $30.38 for each 12-hour period that the car remains in storage charged to the nearest half day. The Director shall adjust the maximum storage fee for private property impounds by rule for inflation on an annual basis following publication of 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 thereto, 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 RCW 46.55.118(1)(b) .

(c) After hours release fee. This fee may be adjusted by the Director upon written findings that reasons to do so exist. The 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.

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

Fee Maximum Comments

Towing service fee $186.84 $203.96 first hour $133.34$145.56 per subsequent hour billed at $33.34 $36.39 for each 15 minutes.

Storage fee $30.37 $30.38 per 12-hour period $30.37 per subsequent 12-hour period charged to the nearest 12-hour period. (ie 1 min-12 hours storage=$30.37 12 hours 1 min- 24 hours=$60.74) $30.38 per subsequent 12-hour period charged to the nearest 12-hour period (i.e., 1 min to 12 hours storage= $30.38; 12 hours, 1 min to 24 hours = $60.75)

Uncompleted tow fee $46.71per $50.99 per15 minute period Time computed from time of dispatch of tow vehicle to time of release

After hours release $100 For releases outside of normal business hours