TRN-17.04 - Private Property Impound Tows Conditions

Purpose

Portland City Code (PCC) Section 7.24.010 requires that towing from private parking facilities be performed safely and at a reasonable price. This administrative rule implements PCC Section 7.24.070 (Conditions).

Authority

Under the authority of PCC Chapter 3.12, the City Administrator may adopt administrative rules.

Definitions 

Certain terms used in this administrative rule are defined by PCC Section 7.24.030 (Definitions). 

Effective Date

This administrative rule takes effect February 15, 2026.

Policy

Towers performing private property impound tows in the City of Portland must comply with the following conditions:

1.  Tow Receipt

A.  When releasing a PPI towed vehicle, the tower must issue to the vehicle owner/owner’s agent a clearly legible receipt with the following information:

1. Tow Number or call number provided by the City dispatch contractor

2. Vehicle license plate

3. State

4. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

   1. This information in mandatory on all PPI tows to ensure that the vehicle is not stolen. 

   2. If the VIN is not readily obtainable by the tower, a hold may be placed on the vehicle for a VIN inspection. As an alternative to applying a hold, the following procedure may be used to obtain an unreadable VIN:

      1. If the license plate reported to the City dispatch contractor matches the make/model/style of the vehicle listed in the DMV record, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Records will accept the available information and the tower will be  authorized to release the vehicle upon payment of towing and storage fees.

      2. If the license plate does not match the make/model/style in the DMV record, PPB Records will request that the tower re-check the plate.  If the plate re-check returns with the same, non-matching information, then when the owner or owner's agent comes to pick up the vehicle, the tower will ask the owner or owner's agent to open the vehicle prior to payment so the VIN can be correctly reported to the City dispatch contractor and the vehicle may then be released.

      3. Auto Records will notify the tower if the vehicle has been reported stolen and the regular procedures for a Recovered Stolen vehicle will be applied.

   3. Storage fees will not accrue while a hold is in place. 

5. Make

6. Model

7. Style

8. Year

9. Color

10. Address or tax lot number of the property from which the vehicle was towed or released at the scene

11. Address to which the vehicle was towed

12. Name of the business that authorized the tow

13. Time and date that the tow was reported to the City dispatch contractor

14. The name of the authorized requestor

15. Time that the tow was reported as completed to the City dispatch contractor

16. Tow driver (initials or City ID)

17. Tow truck plate (City plate, or DMV plate)

18. Identity of the person to whom the vehicle is released

    1. Name

    2. Driver's license or ID number

    3. Telephone number

    4. Address, city, state and zip code

19. Date and time of the release

20. Contact information for the City Towing Program, including: 

    1. The PBOT Regulatory customer service e-mail address, and 

    2. Web address of the towing complaint form

21. A copy of the City's "Rights When Towed from Private Property"

2. Calculating Fees for Towed Mileage 

1. An amount established by administrative rule per towed mile, up to 8 miles, may be added to the fees for a PPI tow.
2. Mileage will be measured to 1/10th of a mile from the hookup location to the PPI tower's nearest approved storage facility.
3. For audit purposes, the distance standard will be the shortest route. For the purpose of disputes the City will provide supporting documents upon request for any determination impacting the mileage billing. 

Number of miles travelled will not be rounded. 

3. Sub-contracting for out-of-class or special equipment

1. When the sub-contractor provides service on a PPI tow, the name of the sub-contractor, driver name, and license plate of the sub-contracted equipment must be listed on the receipt.
2. The PPI tower will be responsible for fees charged by the sub-contractor. Such fees must comply with approved rates or be approved by the Towing Coordinator prior to passing them on to the vehicle owner.

4. Photographs

1. Prior to attaching equipment for a PPI tow, the PPI tower must take photographs of the vehicle to be towed in the position where it was left by the vehicle operator. Such photographs must include:

   1. At least one photo identifying the subject vehicle and illustrating the condition(s) that justify the impound, such as the absence of a permit, parking over a line, etc.; and

   2. At least one photo showing that a compliant sign is visible from where the vehicle is parked. The photo should include the vehicle and the sign; and

   3. Photos documenting the presence of compliant signs at all entrances into the parking facility, including exit-only driveways, unless an anti-entry device is installed. These include, but are not limited to:

      1. One-way spike strips

      2. Locking gate

   4. Photos must be date- and time-stamped by the camera. 

2. Such photos must be kept in retrievable form for at least 2 years and must be made available upon request by the City.
3. Failure to provide photographs upon request will invalidate the tow. If photos do not clearly identify the vehicle to be towed, illustrate the reason for the tow, lack date and time stamp, or fail to document compliant signs, the tow may be invalidated.

5. Animals in towed vehicles

1. If a vehicle is found to contain any live animal, the PPI tower will take reasonable care to protect the welfare of the animal, including:
   1. Placing the vehicle in indoor storage, if weather conditions would jeopardize the welfare of the animal;
   2. Offering the animal water, if it is safe to do so.
2. If the vehicle owner has not contacted the PPI tower within 2 hours after the vehicle reaches the PPI tower's storage lot, the PPI tower must contact the local Animal Control authority to arrange for the animal to be taken into protective custody. Such arrangement must be made as soon as feasible but in no case later than 4 hours after completion of the tow.
3. The PPI tower must provide information about the location of the animal when the vehicle owner/owner's agent calls to arrange for release of the vehicle.
4. PPI tower must release the animal to the registered owner or person with permission to operate the vehicle without charge except a gate fee if released after hours.

6. Notification prior to tow 

1.  Notification of the intent to tow a vehicle from private property must be made by the PPI tow driver to the Portland Police Bureau through the City's dispatch contractor before any tow equipment is attached or the vehicle is moved.
2. Such notification must be made through a web portal provided by the City's dispatch contractor and must include at least the following information:

   1. Vehicle license plate, make and color;

   2. Correct address from which the vehicle is to be towed; and

   3. Name of the tow driver initiating the tow. 

7. Notification of the completion of the tow

1. A. The PPI tower will notify the local police agency through a web portal provided by the City's dispatch contractor of the completion of the tow and location of the vehicle within 1 hour after the vehicle is placed into storage, or released at the scene. Such notification will include the following information:

   1. Towed vehicle license plate

   2. State from which the vehicle plate was issued

   3. Vehicle Identification Number

   4. Make

   5. Model

   6. Style

   7. Year, if known

   8. Color

   9. Tow Class

   10. Correct street address of the property from which the vehicle was towed or released at the scene

   11. Address to which the vehicle was towed

   12. Name of the business that authorized the tow

2. If a prior notice does not result in a towed vehicle, the PPI tower must report to the City dispatch contractor whether a release at scene (RAS) fee was collected or the vehicle was released without a fee.

8. Notification of release

1. Within 8 hours of releasing a vehicle to the registered owner/owner's agent, foreclosing a possessory lien, or accepting a title, the PPI tower must report the action to the City in a method approved by the Director.
2. Periodically, a list of unreleased PPI-towed vehicles in storage more than 30 days will be sent to each PPI tower.

   1. PPI towers will check their records and provide information about the disposition of each listed vehicle. Applicable data service and administrative service fees will be assessed.

   2. If the PPI tower has no information about the disposition of a vehicle that is no longer in their possession, it will be assumed to have been released to the vehicle owner and presumptive data service fees and administrative service fees will be assessed, in addition to applicable penalties.

9. Data services fee

1. The City will bill the PPI tower for the Data Service or Dispatch Fee.
2. Late payments will be subject to penalties and/or interest.
3. The amount of this fee will not exceed the current dispatch fee established by the City of Portland agreement for municipal towing services, as  may be amended by the City Administrator.

10. Administrative service fee

1. The City will send the PPI tower an invoice for administrative service or City service Fees collected for each PPI towed vehicle released to the vehicle owner in the previous month.
2. Late payments will be subject to penalties and/or interest.
3. The amount of this fee will not exceed the current administrative service or City service fee established by the City of Portland agreement for municipal towing services, as it may be amended by the City Administrator.

11. City holidays

PPI towers are not required to staff their offices on official City holidays, as listed in HRAR-6.02.

12. Release at Scene (RAS)

1. A PPI tower is entitled to a RAS fee for an interrupted tow only if the required prior notification to the City dispatch contractor has been carried out and the PPI tower has completed the hookup and attachment of all safety equipment, and is in full possession of the vehicle as defined in PCC Chapter 7.24. The fee for an interrupted tow is limited to:

   1. The base fee allowed for the appropriate type of vehicle – Class A, Class B or Class C

   2. Data services or dispatch fee

   3. Administrative or City service fee

2. If the vehicle owner or operator returns while PPI tow staff is still attaching equipment to the vehicle or is outside of the tow truck for any reason, the PPI tower must release the vehicle to the vehicle owner or operator at no charge.
3. CIf the vehicle owner or operator stops the PPI tower when the hookup is complete and the tow truck is in motion with the vehicle, the PPI tower must immediately halt the tow and inform the vehicle owner of the amount of the RAS fee and that the vehicle owner has up to 30 minutes, without additional charge, to provide payment of the RAS fee and have the vehicle released. If the vehicle owner/owner's agent fails to provide payment within 30 minutes, the PPI tower may proceed to tow the vehicle to the storage facility.

   1. The tower must provide a physical or digital copy of a receipt of payment any time a RAS fee is charged.

13. Complaints

1. A vehicle owner whose vehicle has been impounded or who has paid for release of their vehicle at the tow scene will have 30 days from the date of the completion of the tow to file a written complaint with the City against the PPI tower.
2. Except under circumstances beyond the City's control, vehicle owners' written complaints will be forwarded to the PPI tower within 15 business days of receipt by the Towing Coordinator.
3. The PPI tower must provide a written  response within 10 business days of receiving notice of a complaint unless another deadline is approved by the Towing Coordinator.  Such response must be accompanied by all documentation requested by the Towing Coordinator, including, but not limited to:

   1. A copy of the authorization to tow; and

   2. Pertinent staff testimony; and

   3. Photographs of the subject vehicle, taken prior to towing, marked with the time and date the photograph was taken.