Audits, reports, rules and contracts about towing in San Jose, each with a short summary in plain words and a link to the agency's own copy.
These are government documents. We link to the official copies. Summaries are ours; read the record itself before you rely on it.
City rules for private-property tows and tow businesses: police approval and a signed tow receipt certifying signs, 18 by 24-inch signs, a 20-minute report to the Auto Desk, no drop fees, payment by cash, check or card, yard postings and permit discipline.
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Lists the $122 impound release fee paid to the City, and the rates paid to the tow company for police tows: $335 basic tow, $130 a day storage, $130 after-hours gate fee. It says the rates come from the CHP Tow Services Agreement for the San Jose office and are adopted by the City Council.
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The Auto Desk number and hours, what you need for a police release, and how to ask the SJPD Tow Hearing Unit for a hearing within 10 days.
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How to ask DOT for a post-storage hearing on a parking or abandoned-vehicle tow within 10 days, at 200 E. Santa Clara Street or 408-975-3718.
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The statewide agreement for CHP rotation tow operators. Section 12 says each operator's rates are reviewed by the local CHP Area commander and are the maximum on CHP calls. San Jose's police tow rates are tied to the CHP's San Jose-office rates.
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Announces the City's contract with Autura for its Aries towing software and replaces the paper CHP 180 form with an online City of San Jose Tow Slip, starting February 3, 2025 in two districts.
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Explains that zone tow rates follow the CHP's San Jose rates under Council Policy 9-8 (1983, amended 2008), lists the old and new rates, and promises a cut to the City's release fee. The resolution sets the maximum charges for City contract tows.
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The resolution posted with the agenda is a draft; the final adopted copy is held by the City Clerk.
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Covers the City's six zone tow contracts. Two contractors had refused tows, missed payments or used an unpermitted yard; the Auditor recommended escalating penalties, a new request for proposals, clearer use of CHP-approved rates, and better tow data, which the City then lacked.
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Reviews the complaint-driven program that removes abandoned and long-parked cars (about 55,000 requests in 2017-18). It found the $252 vehicle release fee was based on too much sworn-officer time and recommended recalculating it and considering a subsidy for low-income owners.
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