Baltimore City Council votes down measure to update and improve consumer protections for trespass towing.

Drivers who park improperly or for too long on private or public property should face reasonable consequences. But they should have basic protections when their car is towed. Helping consumers and our financially vulnerable by instituting these restrictions on the towing industry is a good idea and in December we testified in support of a Baltimore City bill to update and improve consumer protections for trespass towing. 

Last month, as reported by the Baltimore Brew, a City Council Committee voted down the measure 4-3.

In May 2021, Maryland PIRG Foundation, along with our national partners at U.S. PIRG, conducted an in-depth study of towing problems and towing laws nationwide, and found that inadequate consumer protections exist throughout nearly every city and state regarding vehicles that are supposedly parked improperly and then towed.

We’re disappointed the City Council did not take the opportunity to strengthen consumer protection for towing, but thank Councilman Ryan Dorsey for supporting the reform.