[BoulderCouncilHotline] Ordinance 8295, Towing

[Young, Mary]

Dear Colleagues,


In preparation for discussion of Ordinance 8295 on November 8, I wanted to share with you highlights of my notes from a September 27 meeting with Anthony Cummings, Criminal Investigator, with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).


  1.  After 2-10 days, towing companies are required to conduct an IDS search (not sure what acronym stands for). The towing company is then required, by statue 42-4-2102 or thereabouts, to notify all person(s) listed as lien holders and owners.
  2.  The above search is usually conducted by VIN number and not registration, but both can be done.
  3.  Consider disallowing towing for issues that do not pose a public safety issue
  4.  Tow drivers are paid by the tow, thereby creating an incentive to find ways to tow as many vehicles as possible within any given shift.
  5.  State statute does not prohibit revenue sharing between apartment management company and towing company.
  6.  State statute does not require police notification.
  7.  In Mr. Cummings many years of enforcement and investigation of state towing statute, he has found that much of it occurs in communities of color, immigrant communities and non-English speaking communities.
  8.  The best way to ensure compliance of a local ordinance by towing companies is through requirement of a local license in addition to a state license. Denver has such a requirement within their local ordinance.
  9.  As part of an investigation, DORA may request reviews of agreements between the towing company and an apartment management company.


If you have additional questions, you may contact Tony Cummings at 303-894-2915 and Anthony.Cummings at state.co.us<mailto:Anthony.Cummings at state.co.us>.


Thank you.


Mary Dolores Young
Boulder City Council
303-501-2439

"All ethics . . . rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts . . ." - Aldo Leopold

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