Recovering a stolen car made easier

Victims of car theft in Philadelphia will now be able pick up their recovered cars themselves, and avoid a city tow fee.

A bill passed Thursday by Philadelphia City Council is aimed at making it easier and cheaper for people to recover stolen cars in the city.

Listen:
[audio: 091218tmtowing.mp3]

Councilman Darrell Clarke says right now, a recovered stolen car is towed to a salvage lot, which costs the owner $150 plus storage.  He says the new bill gives those people the option to pick up the car themselves, if the car isn’t in a dangerous place.

Clarke: The first phone call should go to that individual whose vehicle was stolen, not the tow company not City Hall.  That person has the option to have their own road service come and recover the vehicle, they have 24 hours or they can themselves can recover their vehicle.

The Councilman says the towing fee is being cut to $105, and storage fees will be capped at $175 dollars. He says his constituents have complained of fees that piled up to more than $1,000 for a single tow.