Tony Cayemitte was about to go home after visiting his friend at Cabana Beach, but he came back to find his car towed with a charge of $76.
The base rate to tow an illegally parked car is $76, and Superior Towing is asking the city to raise it to $100.
However, some residents are at odds about the issue. Owner Mike Weber said raising the cost is necessary to keep up with the cost of business. Those opposed to the measure say the company hasn’t produced any proof the extra costs are essential.
Towing companies, along with taxi companies, are regulated by municipal laws. The City Commission’s Public Safety Committee previously reached a 2-to-1 vote recommending to raise the rate to $84.
The City Commission planned to vote on the issue Thursday but postponed the vote because of time limitations. It was put off until the next commission meeting, which will be in October.
“Costs have gone up 30 percent,” Weber said. “Gas prices have gone through the roof. My brake pads now cost $400. Tow trucks now cost $68,000 instead of $35,000. I don’t see why raising my rates to $100 is a huge deal to the city. I need to adjust to the standards of today’s world.”
Billy Vranish, director of external affairs for student government at UF, is fighting raising of the towing costs because he said the extra charges are unwarranted.
“They want to raise the towing rates because of what? They have never given any factual and supporting evidence that the costs are necessary to sustain business,” said Vranish, a UF senior.
A formal request to increase the rates was submitted to the Gainesville City Commission. The last time a request was submitted was in 2007. That request was denied.
At the time of denial, Superior Towing was told it needed to provide evidence that the extra money was necessary to sustain the business.
Weber said he thinks that his business is being discriminated against because towing companies are an easy target.
“If you ever own a business and the city tells you that you have to open your books to everyone, it feels like everyone is against you,” he said. “I am going to be out of business if these costs don’t go up.”
