§ 9-13-3. Towing and storage fees and regulations.

(a)

The maximum fees that may be charged for the towing of motor vehicles and for the storage and, when specifically authorized by this section, the retrieval of such towed vehicles are as follows:

(1)

for the towing of a motor vehicle (i) less than 7,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum fee shall be $135; (ii) for medium tows, 7,500 to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum fee shall be $250; (iii) for heavy tows, greater than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum fee shall be $500;

(2)

for the storage of a towed motor vehicle, the maximum fee for each 24-hour period of storage, or portion thereof, shall be $50 for any (i) vehicle 22 feet or less and (ii) $5.00 per foot for any vehicle over 22 feet in length; provided, that no storage fee may be charged for the first 24 hours of storage; and

(3)

for towing a vehicle between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. or on any Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, an additional after-hours fee of no more than $25 per instance may be charged; however, in no event shall more than two such fees be charged for towing any such vehicle. No charge shall be made for storage and safekeeping for a period of 24 hours or less.

(4)

if a fee for notification of lien holder, owner, agent or other interested party is charged, it shall not exceed $75.00. This fee may only apply after the vehicle is on the storage site over three full business days. No administrative fees will be charged, or any other charges unless expressly set forth herein.

(b)

It shall be unlawful for any person to charge a towing fee, storage fee or retrieval fee that exceeds the fees established by subsection (a).

(c)

Any towed motor vehicle that is covered by this chapter shall be towed directly to and stored at a facility located in the City of Alexandria or in the Commonwealth of Virginia within three miles of the boundaries of the City of Alexandria. It shall be unlawful for any person to cause a towed vehicle to be stored at a facility more than three miles beyond the boundaries of the City of Alexandria. If the facility at which a towed motor vehicle is stored is located beyond the boundaries of the City of Alexandria, any storage fee shall be assessed at the rate of the jurisdiction in which the lot is located. This applies only to storage fees and not towing fees, after hours fees or any other fees regulated by this chapter.

(d)

Vehicle release.

(1)

If the owner of the vehicle is present and removes the vehicle from the property or corrects the violation before the vehicle is connected to the tow truck, no fee will be charged the vehicle owner;

(2)

If the vehicle has been connected to the tow truck and has not yet left private property, the vehicle shall not be towed upon request of the vehicle owner. The owner shall be liable for a drop fee, as set forth in this Section, in lieu of towing, in an amount not to exceed $50, provided that the vehicle owner removes the vehicle from the property or otherwise corrects the violation. (Ord. No. 3641, 6/12/93, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 4820, 6/15/13, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 4959, 6/13/15, Sec. 1)