http://annarborchronicle.com/2008/08/30/would-the-owner-of-a-blue-honda-civic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=would-the-owner-of-a-blue-honda-civic it's like being there Tue, 16 Sep 2014 04:56:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 http://annarborchronicle.com/2008/08/30/would-the-owner-of-a-blue-honda-civic/comment-page-1/#comment-17090 Bill Shaw Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:44:09 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=2129#comment-17090 It should be noted that the tow operator (me) made entry into the vehicle to release the parking brake, rather than install tow dollies ($55 extra) on the vehicle. Towing is expensive enough; the Honda was relatively easy to enter. Police impounds differ from a regular breakdown in several respects. First, these vehicles are towed without the owner’s consent…no keys, simply as-is. When owners fight the tow bill, we have to be present in court along side the officers. Second, we have to be there within 20 minutes, no exceptions. The cost of having enough staff to assure such a response is high; therefore public safety towing rates are higher that standard rates. Storage is involved, and someone will have to be available to release the vehicle 24/7/365. No money from police impounds in Ann Arbor is returned to the city. The State of Michigan mandates a fee to cover the expense of maintaining a database of impounded vehicles. Yes, we do make a modest profit from towing vehicles; that is the point doing business…

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