The Chronicle passes on some good news: in the “Wrap-Ups” section, we are told that a Good Samaritan has paid all the fees on Yvonne Bess’ car, so she can have it back. Yvonne Bess is the woman who was already changing her flat tire, and the tow truck driver, apparently working hard to give Houston the Unfriendliest City title next year, wouldn’t help her or even let her finish. Nope, she was towed and she couldn’t afford the tow. So her car went to the impound lot, and the bill starting going up. In fact, this story gives us an inside look at those impound fees (and it’s not quite what the mayor has been telling us):
Under the Safe Clear program, which began Jan. 1, tows cost $75 for the first five miles and $1.50 for each additional mile. Storage is $48 for the first day and $15 for each additional day. Bess said she also was charged a $32 “notification fee.”
Police Lt. Lori Bender said state law authorizes the fee to notify owners and lienholders by registered mail that cars are in storage.
Now, I have tried to pay careful attention; however, I don’t remember the mayor or the traffic czar telling us that if a car was impounded, the first day was almost $50. And I don’t remember that $32 “notification fee” mentioned, although a tow truck driver did mention the notification letter on Chris Baker’s show last week, but he said it was $25. Is the city taking a cut on that letter, too?
Perhaps there is a good idea in here. Why don’t all those $AFEclear supporters, who contend that this is the only way to improve safety and traffic flow, start a Good Samaritan fund for people don’t have the funds to pay for a $AFEclear tow and impound? They can put their money where their elitist mouths are, and we wouldn’t have the city crying poor-mouth, as it’s busy fleecing drivers.
