Bill Cullen writes: > So, if you want to open a competing tow truck operation, you must: find a > large lot zoned correctly IN MPLS, "own or operate" it, and provide "24 > hour, on-duty storage." Any idea how much that would cost? Any idea where > there is a lot big enough to justify 24 hour a day employees? Only the big > providers can justify such costs. > > So David, the answer to your question is simple: The city is making sure > your acquaintance doesn't have to travel to some suburb (gasp!) to get their > car back. And, you can pick it up at 3:19 AM! Your acquaintance just got > the bill for such convenience.
Bill, thank you for the research and the thoughtful post. >From a public policy standpoint, I'm glad the city has both regulations. Given how important a car is in this society and our inadequate public transportation system, I think these rules make sense. You shouldn't have to travel far to get your car (though perhaps a more sensible standard would be X miles from the lot you were towed from), and you should be able to get it whenever you can. I have no doubt this raises costs, and should be factored into any usury limits. That said, Bill's "big provider" point should also keep the labor costs low: it provides economies of scale. It costs bigger lots less per to be staffed 24 hours. Again, all I seek is a reasonable limit on private towing fees; reasonable includes building in the cost of city rules. But c'mon - Cathy Leighton's $300 fee is shocking! As Jan said, I hope councilmembers are listening. At the very least, I would STRONGLY advocate that any parking lot with a towing contract be required to post the fee amount in the lot. David Brauer Kingfield Only towed once, about 15 years ago, off 10th Street for parking after 4, and I totally deserved it. REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
