Some Baltimore County lawmakers expressed concern that a proposal to overhaul Baltimore County?s towing industry could give a private contractor too much authority ? possibly running some long-standing companies out of business, they said.
The County Council will discuss the sweeping legislation, proposed by Councilman Ken Oliver, D-District 4, at a work session Tuesday. Oliver said the proposal will break up a monopoly of about 30 towing companies permitted to operate in the county, and open competition to minority entrepreneurs.
Existing law requires new companies to identify a “need” for additional towing services before the county issues a license, which hasn?t happened in more than a decade, Oliver said.
“You should give everyone an opportunity,” Oliver said. “Automobiles have increased on the road. It shouldn?t be locked out.”
But the 18-page bill calls for the county to contract with a third party to handle all police-initiated towing jobs. That contractor would have discretion over which towing companies to subcontract with ? a key point of contention among lawmakers and members of an association of towing companies licensed to work in Baltimore County.
The bill essentially enables a private company to make public decisions, said Patrick Roddy, an attorney representing the association. Other council members appear to agree.
“There needs to be safeguards in place so there can?t be any towers who are unceremoniously dismissed without having, say, their day in court,” said Councilman Joe Bartenfelder, D-District 6.
Bartenfelder said he thinks the county could dispatch police-initiated towing internally. Councilman John Olszewski, D-District 7, said the bill needs to establish a forum for towers denied subcontracts.
The bill has its merits, Olszewski said, including requiring towers to remain open on weekends and holidays, and accept credit cards. He said he would like to document response times for each towing company.
