CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte City Council Public Safety Committee met on Monday to consider proposed regulations aimed at curbing predatory towing practices across the city.
The potential rules include requiring towing companies to notify business owners before removing vehicles from their properties and mandating clearer fee signage.
The committee meeting addressed growing concerns from local business owners and visitors regarding aggressive towing tactics.
Under current city rules, towing operators are only required to notify property owners about vehicle removals between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The proposed changes seek to expand notification requirements to help eliminate unnecessary towing.
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Yaz Humaideh, owner of Sip City in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood, has dealt with towing issues involving both his personal vehicle and his business.
“They used intimidation tactics where the guy was like, ‘It’s gonna be $275,’” Humaideh said.
Humaideh said the aggressive practices negatively affect customers visiting the neighborhood.
“When visitors come into my neighborhood, into Plaza Midwood and go to support our local businesses, this is what they’re being faced with,” Humaideh said.
He added that significant reform must include capping fees and giving police authority to halt illegal towing when called, noting, “That has to change if anything changes.”
City staff informed committee members that a 2014 court decision prevents the Charlotte City Council from directly setting caps on towing fees.
However, staff explained that the city could request local General Assembly members to pursue statewide legislative changes next year to allow local fee caps.
Staff members also presented several other potential regulations to the committee.
These include prohibiting the towing of occupied vehicles, requiring towing companies to post signage displaying exact towing and drop fees, and establishing a hotline for the public to report predatory towing.
Calls received through the hotline would be reported to the state Attorney General.
Charlotte City Council Member Dimple Ajmera, an at-large Democrat, voiced support for stricter oversight during the meeting.
“There are some bad actors out there, and we need to hold them accountable,” Ajmera said.
While the committee did not vote on any of the proposed changes on Monday, members indicated they are committed to addressing the issue.