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COLUMBIA (WACH) – Drivers may be paying more if their car is towed by the City of Columbia.

Jack Brazell owns Carolina Paint and Body Shop. His company is contracted by Columbia to tow cars. He and other companies are asking city council to raise rates for towing and storage fees.

“It’s been over ten years since we’ve had a rate increase and the cost of doing business increased very much so,” Brazell says.

The city puts limits on what drivers can be charged when they are towed by the city. The proposed fees are not going to be applied if private companies tow cars from their property. Brazell explains when the city calls it is often for car accidents, DUI cases, or drivers operating without a license. This means the proposed increases will not affect most parking violations.

Brazell wants rates in Columbia to be comparable to surrounding areas. When he is called by the Columbia Police Department a standard tow is $75. The same service from the Richland County Sheriff's Department or the Town or Irmo is $125.

“It’s gotten to the point where if we do not get an increase its not going to be beneficial for us to be towing for the city …we are breaking even or going in the hole right now  of these very low rates,” he says.

The ordinance with the proposed rate increases requires a second reading by city council. City officials say they are aiming for mid-October for that reading.

The ordinance includes the following changes in towing and storage charges:

-          increasing the maximum charge of $125 to $160 for the use of a wrecker when a vehicle is disabled as the result of an accident
-          if the vehicles is towed for a parking violation or abandonment increasing the maximum charge from $75 to $125 for the use of a wrecker
-          raising maximum storage charges on stored or impounded vehicles from $10 per day to $25 

Click here to read more about the proposed ordinance.

Do you think the city of Columbia should raise towing rates to keep up with the average price paid in other areas?  Vote in our poll below and leave a comment to weigh in.