Section 16-408. PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

 

408.1The maximum rates that may be charged for all public tows initiated within the District of Columbia, and for all other services, including vehicle storage charges, related to public tows shall be as follows:

(a)$ 50 for providing Road Service for all vehicles, including all services provided to restore and or maintain operation of a vehicle, including services such as repairing tires, recharging batteries, and delivering gasoline;

 

(b)For Standard Towing Services, which apply to any passenger vehicle or any other vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight of 8,000 pounds, or less:

 

(1) $ 100.00 for Preparation, hoist, and tow to location within the District (Roll-back or wheel lift - use of dollies included);

 

(2) $ 3.00 for Towing charge per mile for each mile beyond the District line (at owner’s request); and

 

(3) $ 20.00 for Storage, per 24-hour period, or part thereof.

 

(c)For Heavy-Duty Towing, which applies to any vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight over 8,000 pounds:

 

(1)$ 275.00 for Preparation, hoist, and tow to a location within the District (Roll-back or wheel lift - use of dollies included);

 

(2)$ 6.00 for Towing charge per mile beyond the District line (at owner’s request); and

 

(3)$ 20.00 for Storage per 24-hour period, or part thereof.

 

(d)$ 50.00 for Discontinuance Fee (“Drop Fee”) that is charged when the operator of a vehicle that is to be towed asks that the tow be discontinued and the police officer or other official who requested the tow agrees to discontinue the tow, in accordance with 16 DCMR 408.6.

 

408.2No rates charged by a towing business for private tows may exceed the rates set forth in the towing business’s Basic Business License Endorsement application (including amendments thereto).

 

408.3The holder of a Basic Business License for a Towing Business may collect extra charges on-site for the use of cranes, winches, dollies, or other equipment or services to perform a public tow under extraordinary circumstances or for the restoration or cleaning of an accident site. Within 72 hours after collecting extra charges, the towing business must submit documentary evidence of the extraordinary circumstances to the Director along with a written request for approval of the charges. The Director shall provide a written response within 14 calendar days of receipt of the request for approval. If the Director does not approve extra charges, the licensee of a towing business must provide a refund to the customer in the amount of the disapproved charges within 72 hours of receipt of the Director’s notice of disapproval.

 

408.4Storage charges may accrue for any day that the facility is closed to the public so long as the facility is open for the reclaiming of vehicles for at least ten (10) hours per day, Monday through Friday, during normal business hours, and for at least five (5) hours a day, during normal business hours, on either Saturday or Sunday.

 

408.5If a tow truck responds to a dispatch, and the police officer or other official who requested the public tow determines that services are no longer required, no charge shall be made by the towing business or service, except as may be authorized by a contract with a government agency. If a towing control number has been issued, the towing business shall notify the DPW Towing Control Center by telephone.

 

408.6If a tow truck has applied chains, a dolly, a winch, or other towing device to prepare a vehicle for public tow, and the owner or operator of the vehicle appears and asks that the tow be discontinued, upon concurrence by the police officer or other official who requested the tow (if present), the tow truck operator shall comply, upon payment by the vehicle owner or operator of the rates established for a discontinued public tow. If a towing control number has been issued, the towing business shall promptly notify the DPW Towing Control Center by telephone.

 

408.7Unless a towing service storage lot has been notified by a governmental official that a stored vehicle is to be held for evidentiary or other legally permissible purposes, the towing service storage lot shall promptly release the vehicle to the owner or the owner's agent when presented with proof of personal identity and ownership or authorization to reclaim the vehicle, and upon payment of all towing and storage charges due.

 

408.8Towing businesses and towing services storage lots shall accept as payment for public towing and storage charges, cash, insurance draft, certified check, bank check, money order, and at least two (2) of the most widely-used, nationally recognized credit cards.

 

408.9The owner or operator of the towing service storage lot shall provide to the person to whom the vehicle is released the following:

 

(a)The towing control number;

 

(b)The Notice of Infraction or other legal authority for removal of the car;

 

(c)An itemized statement of the charges due;

 

(d)A receipt for all monies paid; and

 

(e)A copy of the Owner’s Bill of Rights for Towed Vehicles.

 

408.10No repair work shall be done on any vehicle ordered moved by a government official unless the owner of the vehicle or the owner's authorized agent specifically authorizes repair work in writing.

 

408.11Written authorization for repair work to any vehicle ordered moved by a government official shall be made on a separate form which clearly indicates that the form authorizes repair work. The form shall not contain any text in a font size smaller than 10 points.

 

408.12Not less than one year after publication of this final rulemaking, the schedule of maximum rates will be reviewed upon written request, which includes a cost justification, for consideration by the Director. Subsequent written requests for review of the schedule of maximum rates will be considered not less than 24 months after a prior rate review.

 

408.13After considering a request for review of the schedule of maximum rates, the Director, in consultation with the DPW Director, shall determine if the schedule of maximum rates should be changed.

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 52 DCR 522 (January 21, 2005).