A growing number of resident complaints regarding vehicle towing pushed Allentown City Council to act. The council adopted a new ordinance last week that adds procedures to the city’s administrative code to ensure “fair, transparent, and legal towing operations.”
In a statement, Councilman Santo Napoli, who sponsored the ordinance, said conversations with police and multiple residents illustrated the need for protections against predatory towing practices on private property.
Napoli explained that several vehicles have been towed with no clear information or assistance provided for the owners. Many have been forced to pay hundreds of dollars to get their vehicles back, and the councilman emphasized the financial burden this can create. For individuals and families living paycheck to paycheck, Napoli says a large surprise expense like this can cause them to miss their rent or mortgage payments, sometimes even risking eviction…