Connecticut Towers Pushing for Higher Tow Rates

Connecticut towing companies seek a 60 percent increase in their rates for removing and storing vehicles taken away from crashes or violating private parking rules.  

Tow owner Michael Festa, who owns Watertown-based myhoopty.com and Piggie Back Towing, LLC,  reportedly is supported by other tow operators, including the Towing Recovery Association of America. The current basic towing charge of $105 plus $4.75 per mile would increase to more than $167 and $7.58 per mile. 

The tow operators said they need higher rates to keep up with rising costs. They cited utilities, employee pay and maintenance of wreckers, which now ranges from over $100,000 to a million dollars for huge wreckers capable of removing overturned tractor-trailer trucks involved in crashes on interstate highways.

The current outside, gated storage fee of $26 a day for five days or fewer would rise to $41.48 for vehicles under 20 feet in length, under the proposal, which comes four years after the last price increase. 

Source: ctinsider.com