At a Tuesday night meeting, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance that could make it easier to reconcile claims of illegitimate towing within the town.
The board unanimously approved the ordinance, which would require towing companies to offer the option of using credit and debit cards as a payment method.
Although towing companies are required to offer credit card payment options by the town, the new ordinance will make penalties for violating the law more severe.
If a towing company refuses to accept payment, it could lose its privilege license or face fines. The amendment will also require the use of signs that say towing companies are required to accept payment in the form of cash, credit, and debit cards.
But some local towing companies are unhappy with the new ordinance.
Gil Day, manager of Talbert’s Towing, on accusations of predatory towing, said he was concerned that the use of credit and debit cards could be expensive for companies.
“It is awfully costly to small companies,” he said.
Alderman Sammy Slade said he thinks the credit card payment option could be a good method to deal with claims of illegitimate towing.
He said if people were wrongfully towed, the credit card transaction could be returned.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to have some sort of recourse on this,” Slade said.
Notable:
Alderman also discussed the future of the proposed Martin Luther King Jr., Park. Alderman said although they are committed to building the park — which was first set to be constructed in 2008 but has suffered delays because of tight budgets —they do not currently have funding to undergo planned construction.
The park would include an open field, community playground, picnic shelters, and a wildlife native habitat and garden.
Quotable:
“Towing off of private property is not predatory towing. Predatory towing is when a man is sitting across from his lot and watches someone park and goes and tows him when he leaves. And I hate (predatory towing),” said Day on accusations of predatory towing.
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