BOPC, Towing Committee

Today I am providing live coverage of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners Towing Committee. Thanks to @detdocumenters.bsky.social and our media partners:
@bridgedet313.bsky.social
@freep.com
@metrotimes.com
@michiganpublic.bsky.social
@outliermedia.org

@planetdetroit.org
@wdet.bsky.social
@wxyzdetroit.bsky.social

Just notified public that they are awaiting a commissioner to form a quorum. “$800 for a tow” a “hot subject”.

Yes. Hot topic item/meeting. You ready, Detroit?

Just announced missing commissioner has responded that they are 20 minutes away.

Here’s some history (tea 🍵) on the topic whilst you wait…

The Detroit Documenters most recent reporting on the Detroit Tow Rate Commission was to take place Sept. 26, 2024 but the meeting was cancelled. In the prior meeting held Sept. 12, 2024 Detroit Documenters were asked to leave and delete their notes and recordings whilst the meeting continued…

…for reasons not specified as permissible by the Open Meetings Act, that is, behind closed doors and absent adjournment or entering a closed session (see OMA sections 15.267 and 15.268).

Today’s meeting, however, is the Tow Rate Committee but we are covering the same subject: towing in Detroit.

Mic 🎤is on but meeting has not been called to order yet.

Our partners at @bridgedet313.bsky.social — Bluesky and fellow Detroit Documenter Kayleigh Lickliter (@kayrl.bsky.social) — Bluesky reported back in September that towing rates were rising: www.brihttps://www.bridgedetroit.com/detroit-tow-rate-commission-proposes-rate-hike/

You may read more about the history and establishment of the Detroit Tow Rate Commission (pre-scandal), December 2023: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2023-12/Towing%20Commission%20draft%20Revised-MH.pdf

Taking a short break…back soon!

I’m back! We should be starting in about 10 minutes or so.

… (still waiting)…

Call to order 4:32 p.m. and invocation taking place now. Commissioner Banks is Chair. May 28th agenda approval being moved now, unanimously approved.

No Chair report. Presentation forthcoming.

Jason Adams of police department, overview of police department tows and fee change effective July 2025.

Screen-sharing:

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Closed Sundays to the public.

Investigate internal/external towing complaints.

Numbers current as of May 12, 2025:

Going quickly through slides, trying to keep up…

I believe he said Lyndon is not open to the public but will confirm later.

5 companies are contracted for the Detroit Police department as of May 12, 2025:

5 companies contracted are as followed, but there are 3rd party towers (unregulated by the City of Detroit):

Example of an accident scene paperwork that may be received, but 3rd party can charge whatever they want:

Whatever they want which may be outside of the fees:

Note $700 fees effective July 2025 for

Note new fees effective July 2025:

Out of town retrievals are for mileage outside the city of Detroit.

Looks like police-authorized tows actually decreased over this period (2023-2025):

Here’s a look again at the numbers, expressed a bit different:

Abandoned vehicles may be impounded and auctioned, by state law.

We reported on this previously during the Towing Commission meeting held in August 2024.

There is a hardship waiver for city of Detroit residents for the reasons specified:

There is also a separate violent crime victim waiver for the reasons specified:

This is the waiver process for hardship, stolen vehicles, or violent crimes:

There is a towing and impound unit if someone needs to contact the police directly: 313-596-8832

Q: Committee members are asking why a general tow is $800 and why this is the fee?

A: Police specify their rates are set by law, but 3rd party towers (private) are not regulated and can set their own rates independent of the rates specified.

Private tow companies must be called to the scene of an accident and may not approach victims of an accident.

In legal circles, the “accident chasers” are unscrupulous, though the legal community has its own set of “ambulance chasers”.

Committee members are talking about AAA for road coverage (described as 5 tows per year). Says it is less expensive to get the coverage, and police representatives tend to agree.

More discussion about DPD towing a car to a yard.

Storage fees:
$15/day and starting July 1st, $30/day for cars in the yard

Discussion about motorized vehicle rates that have increased substantially

Fees go to city of Detroit Treasury then State Treasury and distributed back to owner

Effective May 12, 2025 a tow company (Bobby’s) is not yet on the listing for authorized towing. Will add details in a bit.

Audio is not great. Introductions going on now. I think speaker was too close to the mic.

Generally discussing fee increases now.

Wonder if fees are subject to change annually (quarterly or otherwise) by law?🤔

Theresa Blossom speaker: history and current day presentation (city charter mandate, article 7, chapter 8)

Procurement, Finance Dept. is in charge with BOPC board retaining general oversight ability.

Note three areas:

1. Policy
2. Budget
3. Complaints

2022 transferred responsibilities to Finance Department, as previously reported a few posts back:

Board transferred their power in 2023 and this is the current status of how they provide oversight of the police department:

Amazing that they are not discussing their role in Operation Northern Hook -
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/former-detroit-police-officer-sentenced-27-months-prison-taking-bribes-connected-towing

Note: Operation Northern Hook was a federal investigation into the actions of the Detroit Police Department’s towing operations.

NOTHING DISCUSSED ABOUT THIS TONIGHT

In 2023, it was reported by the DOJ:

“The case was investigated by the Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, which is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Detroit Police Department, Michigan Attorney General’s Office…”

…”Michigan State Police, Customs & Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “

Currently, they are discussing line items and questions for the presenters.

Announcements, then public comments.

Wed. June 25 at police HQ on 3rd Street

Public comments will start on Zoom tonight....

Public commenter Peggy Godwin is speaking about tow rates and the work they did to compare rates locally and nationally to ensure that the rates are fair.

She said she thinks the presentations were excellent.

All speakers are asked to come to the table so that they can be seen and heard.

Police department is not a revenue-generating department is being emphasized.

Q: Why are police spending money on tow yards and tow trucks? Believes the police are under pressure to generate revenue for the City of Detroit

General discussion but no real substantial response.

“Julie” is told she has 3 minutes. She is too close to the mic.

Q: She is near 3rd precinct and says she is never told when there are games/events so they tow customer cars and customers want to know why.

Hard to hear, plus cross-talk with her question.

Kayleigh with Bridge Detroit asks private towers to notify police before towing on private property. Q: Is there a process?

A: Yes. Towers are to contact precinct desk, vehicle towed w/in 24 hours, same system used for all towers. Recorded on GovTel.

Motion to adjourn passed at 5:19 p.m.

⛔IMPORTANT⛔ If you believe anything in this coverage is inaccurate, please email 📩 documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Ok, let’s get to specifics:

The last question had to do with private tows on private lots 🛻.

The next meeting of the Tow Commission is Wed. June 25 at police HQ 🗓️

Sometimes, the speaker is too close to the mic and I cannot hear the gist of the question 😆.

Chair continued to speak after adjournment about the meeting but video was cut before audio.

“Julie” appeared to be with a business/establishment in the 3rd precinct area.

ℹ️For more about this committee meeting including how to join, agenda, flyers, and contact information -

detrhttps://detroitmi.gov/events/bopc-towing-committee-meeting-may-28-2025

As referenced earlier, here’s more about Bobby’s towing that involves (yet another police/City of Detroit) lawsuit, taken from 2018:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/12/26/lawsuit-alleges-detroit-cops-bobbys-towing-bilking-vehicle-owners/2299747002/

From our partners at @wdet.bsky.social (2023): https://wdet.org/2023/12/25/tow-companies-file-lawsuit-accusing-detroit-police-of-running-illegal-tow-operation/

Finally, this was our 1st coverage (by me) of the Tow Rate Commission taken August 22, 2024 if you’re interested:

https://detroit.documenters.org/assignments/2024-tow-rate-commission-in-person-only-11049/