FEES FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY IMPOUND TOWING AND STORAGE IN THE CITY OF PORTLAND
Administrative Rule Adopted by Portland Bureau of Transportation Pursuant to Rule-Making Authority
ARB-TRN-17.03
The base fees charged for PPI towing within the city limits of Portland have been developed using the following formula:
The current City Tow Contract rate for hookup (Class A, B or C)
Plus, an allowance for signs minimum 5 signs
Plus, an allowance for sales costs, per tow
Plus, profit margin of 8.0%
= Base fee to tower
Basic fees for towing may not exceed:
Class A hookup fee $196.00
(includes hookup, dollies, 30 minutes on scene,
tower’s dispatch and photo fee.)
Class B hookup fee $206.00
(includes hookup, dollies, driveline or axle pull, 30 minutes
on scene, tower’s dispatch and photo fee.)
Class C hookup fee $363.00 per hour
(port to port hourly fee includes hookup, driveline or
axle pull, tower’s dispatch, mileage and photo fee)
Also applicable to all PPI tows:
Data services fee (payable to Tow Desk on redeemed vehicles) $22.00
City of Portland service fee (payable to the City of Portland on $50.00
redeemed vehicles)
The following fees may be added, as appropriate. PPI Tower must provide documentation to support such additional charges upon request.
Towed Mileage, as follows, up to a maximum of 8 miles:
Class A $5.00/towed mile
Class B $6.00/towed mile
Labor/Standby -time on-scene in excess of 30 minutes $22.00 per 1/4 hr
When charging for standby time, the PPI tower must document such a charge by reporting to Tow Desk the time of arrival at, and departure from, the scene.
After hours release or gate fee $45.00
Addition of this fee is allowed when a citizen requests access or release of a PPI towed vehicle outside of regular business hours: after 6:00 p.m. or before 8:00 a.m. M-F; all day Saturday and Sunday; and on City holidays. Such a fee must be validated by documenting the date and time of the appointment on all copies of the tow invoice. If the tower arrives more than 30 minutes after the time agreed on for release of a citizen’s vehicle, the tower may not charge a gate fee.
Release At Scene (RAS) –Includes hookup plus Data Service fee plus City Service fee.
This fee may be assessed only if:
A. The required prior notification to Tow Desk has been carried out; and,
B. The PPI tower has completed the hookup and attachment of all safety equipment, including tow lights, and is in the cab of the tow truck in full possession of the vehicle as defined in PCC 7.24.
C. RAS fees must not exceed:
1. Class A: hookup fee + data services + city service
2. Class B: hookup fee + data services + city service
3. Class C: port to scene hourly + data services + city service
Storage Fees:
Storage fee per 24 hour period from the completion of the tow $32.00/day
(After a four-hour grace period, starting from notice of completion
to Tow Desk)
Vehicles over 20’ long $43.00/day
(After a four-hour grace period, starting from notice of completion
to Tow Desk)
Lien filing fee (Chargeable after a vehicle has been in storage 5 days)
Vehicles valued under $1,000.00 $47.00
Vehicles valued $1,001.00 - $2,500.00 $64.00
Vehicles valued more than $2,500.00 or out of state (not OR, WA) $99.00
If a PPI tower incurs expenses substantially higher than the amount allowed for processing a lien, the tower may request permission to recoup the additional costs by sending a written request for approval to the Towing Coordinator, with receipts to verify the additional expense. Lien fees in excess of the established rate may not be assessed without prior approval by the Towing Coordinator.
Fuel Surcharge
When an emergency fuel surcharge is approved by the Towing Board of Review for towers under contract with the City of Portland, permitted PPI Towers will be eligible to request such an allowance on PPI tows. When approved, the emergency fuel surcharge will not exceed the amount approved by the Towing Board of Review.
Cost of Living Adjustment
After the first effective year of this rate schedule, when a Cost of Living Increase is approved by the Towing Board of Review for towers under contract with the City of Portland, permitted PPI Towers will be eligible to request an increase in PPI towing fees equal to the percentage of increase approved by the Board, as calculated using the CPI inflation calculator provided by the Federal Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Likewise, after the first effective year of this rate schedule when a Cost of Living Increase is approved by the Towing Board of Review for the dispatch contractor, the Tow Desk will be eligible to request an increase in the data service fee equal to the percentage of increase approved by the Board, as calculated using the CPI inflation calculator provided by the Federal Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Approval of such an increase will be at the Bureau Director’s sole discretion and is subject to the public hearing process detailed in PCC 7.24.
History
Originally adopted by Bureau of Licenses as Administrative Rule 015.03-1.
Submitted for inclusion in PPD April 23, 2004 as LIC-9.03.
Revised document filed in PPD April 20, 2006.
Revised interim administrative rule adopted by Director of Revenue Bureau July 17, 2009.
Revised administrative rule adopted by Director of Revenue Bureau February 19, 2010.
Amended by Director of Revenue Bureau December 17, 2013.
Amended by Deputy Director of Revenue Bureau March 25, 2014.
Amended by Director of Portland Bureau of Transportation March 16, 2018.
Renumbered from LIC-9.03-13 and moved to Portland Bureau of Transportation February 21, 2020.
Amended by Director of Portland Bureau of Transportation November 13, 2023.