'Out of control': Predatory towing public hearing held in Birmingham
The City of Birmingham hosted a public hearing to address parking and towing concerns in downtown. It's problem that has been plaguing patrons, who come to the city to eat, visit, and live.
Darrell O'Quinn, City Council for District 5, is the chair of the Transportation Committee. He said the city is drafting two ordinances to fix the predatory towing and booting, and private paid parking lot issues. Currently the drafted ordinances addresses signage, markings on the lots, and a grace period for drivers when they park, and realize they've made a mistake.
"The way that people are paying for parking has changed significantly in the past couple of years. So, you used to these lots, you would drive in and there's a payment kiosk at the front of the lot where there is signage posted there, that set out the rules and expectations. Now when people drive in to a lot they may see a Park Mobile sign, they know they have to use that app, which they are familiar with using at other places. They are doing all of that payment from the front seat of their car, and they may not be seeing signage posted in the lot. Part of what we are doing is updating how the signage in those lots is placed," explained O'Quinn.
Julie Barnard, City Attorney says the city does have the authority to regulate the price on non-consensual towing. She outlined the ordinance the city has drafted over the past two months. It includes, banning towing and booting while the driver is still paying, a grace period before towing is allowed after the driver parks, and including more notices and warning before payment on mobile apps.
SEE ALSO: Mayors want St. Clair County to split gas tax revenue for municipal road projects
SEE ALSO: Final day of legislative session: vaping, cellphone use, absentee ballot bills debated
After Barnard spoke about the drafted ordinance, nearly 20 people spoke about their experiences with the predatory towing in downtown.
Megan Richards said she was towed just a mere six minutes after she parked. It happened so quick, she thought her car had been stolen.
My mother had to go to the restroom, I had taken a picture of the paid to park app.and they towed my car before I had time to pay.
Since then, Richards hasn't come back to downtown Birmingham since. She created a facebook group for others with similar experiences to share.
"I want Birmingham leaders to hear that this is going to affect their economy. So many people, me included don't want to do business at places if i don't have street parking, or if I don't have a parking deck. I'm not going to pay to park anymore...it's not a risk I can take," explained Richards.
John Parker owns a business in Five Point South. He blames predatory towing for driving business away.
"I have friends in other neighborhoods in the city, live in the suburbs, and don't make it downtown period because they can't park anywhere, and they don't know where to park," said Parker.
He thinks the unclear signage is a problem, that leads to people being towed. He also sees tow trucks waiting to take away his costumer's car nightly.
"It's ambiguous language, meant to steal people cars in that dont know their specific rules, in the specific lot, in the specific city," said Parker
O'Quinn said the number of the complaints about the towing, has increased over the last six months. He said the meeting was the beginning of the conversation between the public and the council. The city will take the feedback from the meeting and include it in the ordinance that will go before committee, then eventually the city council.