WHEREAS, In 2016, City Council passed Bill No. 160682, which amended Section 9-605 of The Philadelphia Code to establish what is commonly known as the “ticket-to-tow” requirement, generally requiring a vehicle parked without authorization on private property to be ticketed by police or other law enforcement authority before it may be towed, subject to certain exceptions; and
WHEREAS, The ticket-to-tow requirement was established as part of Philadelphia’s regulatory framework governing towing from private property and was intended to provide protections against improper towing, while its implementation has also raised questions regarding the ability of private property owners to timely remove unauthorized vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Nearly a decade has passed since City Council approved the ticket-to-tow requirement, providing Council an opportunity to examine how the requirement has operated in practice and its impact on motorists, property owners, businesses, towing companies, law enforcement, and other City resources; and
WHEREAS, Recent enforcement actions by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General involving Philadelphia towing companies have included allegations of unlawful towing, inadequate signage or authorization, excessive or unlawful fees, and other practices harmful to consumers, demonstrating the continuing importance of strong consumer protections, transparency, accountability, and meaningful enforcement within the towing industry; and
WHEREAS, Other jurisdictions regulate private-property towing through measures that may include signage requirements, property-owner authorization, photographic documentation, limitations on towing and storage fees, reporting requirements, consumer complaint procedures, and penalties for unlawful towing, providing Council an opportunity to examine different approaches to protecting motorists while preserving the rights of private property owners; and
WHEREAS, Reexamining the ticket-to-tow requirement does not presume that the requirement should be repealed, retained, or modified, but provides Council an opportunity to evaluate available evidence, hear directly from affected residents, property owners, businesses, towing companies, law enforcement agencies, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders, assess current enforcement practices, and determine whether Philadelphia’s towing laws continue to appropriately address consumer protection, private property rights, transparency, accountability, and effective enforcement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Legislative Oversight and the Committee on Streets and Services are hereby authorized to hold hearings examining the City of Philadelphia’s “ticket-to-tow” requirement under Section 9-605(11) of The Philadelphia Code, including its effectiveness, fairness, transparency, enforcement, and impact on private property owners, vehicle owners, towing companies, and City agencies.
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