Drivers in Lutz and Odessa could pay more when their vehicles are towed after a crash, arrest or illegal parking under a proposal heading to Hillsborough County commissioners Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Two industry groups are asking the county to raise maximum rates for police-ordered and trespass tows, add new charges for specialized recovery equipment and authorize a $25-per-tow fuel surcharge, Tampa Bay 28 first reported.

The Hillsborough County Towing Association and the Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida submitted the proposals, citing higher costs for fuel, insurance, payroll, vehicles, parts and repairs.

For a standard vehicle weighing up to 10,000 pounds, the maximum hookup fee would jump from $160 to $185, a 15.6% increase. Daily storage would rise from $35 to $40. Mileage charges would go from $6 to $7 per mile. The after-hours vehicle release fee would rise from $70 to $80.

Heavier vehicles would see steeper increases. Hookup charges for the largest class of vehicles would rise from $475 to $545, a 14.7% jump.

The changes would not affect drivers who call a tow company on their own after a breakdown. They apply only to non-consensual tows ordered by law enforcement and trespass tows from private property.

Fuel surcharge tied to diesel prices

The proposed $25 surcharge would kick in when the federally reported diesel price for the Lower Atlantic region tops $4 per gallon. The surcharge is an industry request, not a staff recommendation. County staff concluded a flat surcharge "may be reasonable" based on the industry's explanation of fuel consumption during towing, but noted no other jurisdiction reviewed uses that model.

Michael McArthur, director of operations at Stepp's Towing, said his company burns more than 1 million gallons of fuel a year, a figure not included in the county staff report.

"Our trucks sit a lot, so while they're on a job loading, they're idling, and that uses a lot of fuel," McArthur told Tampa Bay 28.

County staff flags above-average rates

Staff compared the proposals against rates in Broward, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Palm Beach counties. The proposed $185 hookup rate for standard vehicles is 20.5% above the $153.57 comparison average. The largest-vehicle hookup rate of $545 is 44.5% above the $377.25 average.

Staff concluded the proposed increases, taken together, are generally above average for comparable jurisdictions. The industry pointed to Hillsborough County's three-year review period as justification.

The proposals also include new hourly charges for specialized equipment: $775 for rotator crane service, $300 for Landoll and lowboy trailers, $450 for specialty equipment such as loaders and excavators, and $2,500 for a maintenance-of-traffic support truck or trailer.

No vote Wednesday

Commissioners will not vote on the rates Oct. 21. The board will review the staff report and could direct the County Attorney's Office to draft an amended resolution for a future meeting. Current rates stay in place if commissioners take no action.

The discussion grew out of a Sept. 2 commission meeting, when Commissioner Miller asked Code Enforcement and the County Attorney's Office to review towing rates and examine a fuel surcharge.

If commissioners do direct changes, revised fees could take effect as early as the next regular commission meeting.