York County adopts ordinance to establish towing advisory board to regulate police‑requested towing

The York County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt proposed ordinance 24‑5 on March 19, 2024, authorizing creation of a towing advisory board to oversee police‑requested towing and related storage and fee practices.

Captain Jason Houston of the York County Sheriff's Office told the board police‑requested tows have increased sharply since 2021 and that complaints about inconsistent or high towing charges have become more frequent. Houston said the sheriff’s office maintains a rotational list of tow providers but lacks authority to set fees; he recommended a locally appointed advisory board to propose county code standards and fee schedules consistent with state law.

Houston explained the state code framework (materials in the meeting packet) that allows a governing body to regulate police‑requested towing and prescribes the advisory board composition. He proposed a five‑member board with two law‑enforcement representatives, two towing‑operator members and one citizen representative, and pointed to models used by other Virginia localities.

Board members described the proposal as a consumer‑protection measure that could bring consistency and reduce instances of what officials described as potentially traumatizing high bills for victims of crashes and disabled vehicles. The board approved the ordinance by roll call and directed staff to advertise for appointments through the board’s application process (Board Bank).