Something to consider when we look at local governments, and their place in the federal system.
What rules apply for towing automobiles? And who gets to establish them? I'm unaware of any national policies regarding this, or what it would take to justify such policies. This seems to fit comfortably in the "many and undefined" powers of the state governments, which then delegate them to the local governments.
From the story:
Want to tow a car parked illegally in an apartment complex lot in
Houston? You can charge a $155 base fee. In Dallas, that will be $121,
please. In San Antonio, the most the city allows companies to charge for
private property tows is $85. The city set that cap in 2002. A decade
later, it remains unchanged.
In that same time period, Dallas, Austin and Houston all raised their limits on private property tows.
But San Antonio has distinguished itself from the rest of the pack in
another way: A war has erupted between the city and Bexar Towing, the
largest company doing private property tows here. Bexar Towing has sued
the city, arguing officials failed to raise the private property tow fee
to a reasonable amount in a reasonable period of time, and did not
perform what's called a tow fee study, required by the state, to
determine where to set the cost.
In case you are wondering what a tow fee study is, click here and enjoy.
