13 ATTACHMENT 3 Adarns Towing & Recovery, LLC 1203 Belmont Street Burlington, NC 27215 336-228-0730 - Phone 336-228-6424 - Fax To: Chapel Hill Town Council From: Adams Towing & Recovery On behalf of all Towing Companies Re: Accepting Credit Card Payments for Illegally Parked Cars I am writing on behalf of all towing companies that tow illegally parked cars in the Chapel Hill and Carrhoro area. Please take a moment and let my company voice its opinion on the acceptance of credit cards for this service. If it is deemed mandatory for the towing companies to begin accepting credit cards for moving illegally parked cars, we feel it will be necessary to begin charging an additional $25 fee for customers using credit cards for payment. This fee is necessary to cover the additional costs we incur for the acceptance of a credit card. These additional costs include bank and batch fees as well as the percentage that the credit card company charges. (This percentage varies depending on the credit card used.) In addition to these fees. if a credit card is disputed. the credit card company charges a dispute fee as well. In summary, fees can range anywhere from $5 up to as much as $35 if a card is disputed. Based on the time and costs incurred for the use of credit cards as well as for the good of our customers. we feel that it would be more econonlical to continue requiring g& payments only for moving illegally parked cars. Thanking you in advance for your consideration in this matter Sinc Robert D. Adams
16 George '?.Towing & Recovery 210 Hwy 54 West Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Phone (919) 270-5154 Kinggeorgel@destinationdreamliving.com Attention: Mayor & Town Council Members 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 DearTown Council Members, I was the second speaker at the Town Council Meeting on February 11,2008. 1 was very concerned about the things I heard. On February 5th, I personally met with the Chief of Police and the Police Attorney. I was inquiring as to how they concluded to the prices of the Towing Amendment and it's set price as a CAP. I was told it was comparable to the prices of the amendment which was passed in Raleigh in 2004, which was uncontested. I asked if they had considered prices of gas inflation, vehicle maintenance and other costly expenses to operate a business. Once again, I was told that we had the opportunity to discuss these issues at the Pre-Towing Amendment meeting on February ll*. It has been noted that the Tow Operators on the local Police Rotation, receive $100 pertow. Not included in this $100 fee of towing, is a $50 citation and also not included in this $100 towing fee is a storage fee for using the local Police impound lot. In this situation, the Tow Operator does not release the vehicle impounded, the local police release said vehicle. Also, when the tow operator is called to illegal parking site, and the vehicle owner comes up before tow truck leaves the site, there is no REDUCED RE for release of that vehicle. It is NLL cost of tow fee - NO H price specials. The third speaker was an individual named Gill Day. He is the operator for Talbert'sTowing & Recovery. On February 4*, 1 personally spoke with Gill in reference to the upcoming meeting. In this conversation he states: "That he charges a vehicle owner $50 just to release said vehicle. This price does not include towing fees." He mentioned in the meeting that he received $100 for illegal parks maximum. My issue is this, I use to be employed with Talbert's in 1988-89, then they were charging $85 plus for an illegal park. When special equipment was used, the tow fee would increase to $100. Now, some nine years later, Gill states openly in the meetingthat he still charges $100 maximum pertow, uh? Maybe its because Gill Day married a Tallbert. The Talbert family owes and operates several convenient store and gas stations here locally. He receives fuel for his tow trucks at buyer cost - not consumer prices. If all tow truck operators could receive fuel for their trucks at buyer cost verses consumer markup prices, then the cost of tows would be at a lower rate to vehicle owners. The next speaker was 1. Barnes. Mr. Barnes stated that he would not contest fee amounts. His conflict was with payment method. Mr. Barnes' primary residence is in Moorhead City, not Chapel Hill. He also does long distance towing and motor club calls. Illegal parks are not his primary tows. Mr. Bames receive $150 plus for each tow. Troy Bames had nothing to say at the meeting. Mr. Barnes receive $150 per tow and if Troy returns the vehicle to the owner, he charges a total of $200 for that tow. Adam's Towing & Recovery charges $150 per tow, not including fuel cost per said tow. George'sTowing has been in operation since 1999. Prices for illegal parks at that time were $85. Due to fuel cost inflations, maintenance, overhead, and other mandatory towing equipment purchased since that time,
17 prices have increased to $150 per illegal park. That is a flat fee, without fuel charges or extra drop out fees. Attached you will find a spread sheet on Business Cost. It breaks down the cost of my towing fees so to better reflect why I charge this fee. I operate two tow trucks. One is a 1990 Ford Diesel Fuel, with a self-loader lift on the back My second truck is a 1985 Chevy with an Eagle Claw Lift. My point is simple this, I have been in the towing business for 10 years and I still operate and maintain tow trucks which are not new and purchase my fuel at consumer cost, which averages $3.49 plus per gallon from the local convenient stores. My trucks get approximately 8 miles to the gallon. A very costly expense. Please review the attached document of my business cost breakdown and understand why I charge the prices I do in orderto maintain my business with minimum profit If a Pn'ce CAP is set in the Pre-Towing Amendment, you are cutting my profit margin by 33%. A cut, I can not afford to take. Please consider this Price GAP before making a decision. If a CAP is in place, small businesses such as myself, will be the ones which suffer. Do not attack the business owners and discipline our companies. Simple enforce the law by encouraging our local citizens to "Obey The Law, By Obeying the Sign." 1 issue a challenge to each of you today. I will offer you the opportunity to do a "Ride-a-long" with me anytime your schedule permits. Please contact me and let me know if you are interested In truly seeing our town from a Tow Operators Viewpoint. Then and only then, will you be able to make a clear decision on revising or not revising this amendment Sincerely, George S. King George's Towing & Recovery Owner & Operator
16 Budget item Rent Electric Utilities Equipment Fuel for Trucks Insurrance Maintainace Office Supplies Other Equipment Lot Maintance Total Expense Amount spent per month $500 $175 $200 $500 Boots = $170 each Dolly Tires = 4 $1,720 Ford Truck = $250 Weekly Chevy Truck Chevy Truck $1 50 $200 $1 25 $400 $1 50 $4120 Monthly Expensenes 3 gal. fule @ $3.25 ea = Time from shop to destination 15 minutes Dollies Time for hook - up 15 minutes Return to shop 15 minutes Drop out time And Secure vehicle 25 Mintues Total: 5 gal. fuel @ $3.25 =$I6 ea. Time from shop to destination 25 minutes $33.25 Dollies $50.0C Time for hook-up I Sminutes $25.00 Return to shop 25 minutes $33.25 Drop Out time And Secure vehicle 25 Mintues
17 Maintainace 5% Insurrance 4% Other Equipment 10% Office Supplies 3% Lot Maintance 4% Rent 12% Electric 4% Utilities 5% Equipment 12% Fuel for Trucks 41%
18 TOWING RIDE-A-LONG REQUEST FORM AND WAIVER I, the undersigned, hereby request permission to ride in a tow vehicle of George's Towing & Recovery, at such times and in such areas as may be approved by George's Towing & Recovery or his designated representative. I understand that the tow vehicle will be engaged in normal enforcement activities, some of which may be dangerous and expose passengers to risk or harm. I acknowledge this risk of harm and voluntarily accept it, hereby releasing George's Towing & Recovery, the individual drivers and employees of George's Towing & Recovery from any liability which might result from my participation in this program. I agree to the rules and instructions listed on this form. Signature of Applicant: Date: PLEASE PRINT THE FOLLOWING REQUIRED INFORMATION Full Name of Applicant: Address: Driver's License1l.D. Card #: Dates preferred I Times Preferred (Please allow 1 week to process) (Please pick a 4-hour period) I st Phone Number: Email Address: Date of Birth: Application Approved: Owner's Signature Date: 1. No person shall be allowed to ride without having submitted a signed ride-along request and waiver form. Refusal to complete this form, or false statements of any nature on same, will disqualify that person from participation in the program. The request to ride form must be turned in to George's Towing & Recovery one (1) week prior to the first requested date of participation. 2. Participants must obey the orders and instructions given by the Tow Operator to whom they are assigned. 4. Participants must not leave the tow vehicle unless instructed to do so by the operator. 5. When the tow unit is assigned to a dangerous call, the rider may be dropped off at a safe location and helshe must remain there until the Tow operator or officer police unit returns to pick himlher up. 6. The rider will provide hislher own transportation to and from the Town Hall Building. 7. Ride along tours usually last four (4) hours; however, either the operator or the rider may terminate the tour at any time. 9. Applicants will be notified by George's Towing & Recovery after filing the written application request form. At that time, the ride will be scheduled andlor confirmed. 10. The applicant's participation is a privilege and not a right. The basic premise of the ride along is to establish rapport with the Towing Company and learn about the functions of Tow Operators and the towing business. 11. Participants shall not converse with any victims or witnesses nor shall they participate in any towing activity unless directly requested by towing operator. 12. All participants must agree not to discuss names of persons involved in towing cases or incidents. 13. Tape recorders and cameras will not be permitted while participating in the program, unless express permission is granted by the Tow Company Owner. 14. By signing the waiver form on this page, the ride along participant agrees to the rules and regulations listed above.