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History of towing in Madison
How towing rules in Madison took shape: ordinances, contracts, court rulings and state laws, in date order. Every entry links to its source.
How to read this timeline. Entries are in date order. Most rest on a court opinion, a law or a government record. Entries marked "Not yet verified" rest on one secondary or self-reported source, and entries marked "From a news report" rest on news coverage. We leave out private people's names and accusations against companies that have no published outcome.
Booting and winter parking (1996 to 2008)
Madison rewrites its private booting ordinance (Ord. 12,041): signs, a 60-minute response, the deferral agreement, a $50 maximum removal fee, and the Transportation Commission appeal (now §§ 23.56, 23.565).
Madison adds snow-emergency towing and the violation rules to its alternate-side parking ordinance (ORD-08-00127, § 12.1335(4)(d), (6)).
Private-property tow rules (2014 to 2016)
Madison's unlawful-towing ordinance takes effect (§ 23.561): the state rules for private-property tows become City offenses with a $100 to $1,000 forfeiture.
Wisconsin's permanent private-tow rule, ch. Trans 319, takes effect after three emergency rules starting in October 2014: the $150 and $25 maximums, sign rules and the police notice.
Nearby city or county
Recent changes (2023 to 2026)
Madison amends its City tow forfeiture and towaway-zone penalties (ORD-23-00119) and orders a Transportation Commission review of the amounts every two years starting in 2025 (§ 12.1331(5)).
Madison amends the Snow Emergency Zone boundary (ORD-25-00061, § 12.1335(2)).
Madison tests a delayed start for winter alternate-side enforcement; a large late-November snowfall starts enforcement early.
Source: Alternate Side Parking Program Updates (City of Madison)
For the rates over the years, see tow and storage rates. Know a record that belongs here? Email corrections@towedhelp.org.
Last checked .