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How police rotation towing works in Spokane
Spokane has no City tow yard. When the police order a tow, a private company from the City's rotation list does it and stores the car at its own lot.
General information, not legal advice. The papers you got from the police, the tow company, the storage lot or a state agency control your dates. Agencies change phone numbers and steps, so check the agency's own page too.
Who gets the call
Companies on the list must be registered with the Department of Licensing and sign a letter of appointment and contract with the Police Department. Calls are dispatched in turn from the list. Companies agree that before impounding from private property an abandoned vehicle reported stolen or involved in a crime, they notify Crime Check or police radio and wait for clearance.
What they may charge
The policy says rotation companies charge the public at or below the State Patrol's rates. For October 15, 2025 to October 14, 2026, the Patrol's rate for a class A or E truck is $297 an hour. Under state law, no company may charge more than the fee schedule it filed with the Department of Licensing.
Sources: ADMIN 0680-25-01 sec. 6.7; WSP Tow & Wrecking page; RCW 46.55.063
Overcharging and complaints
Overcharging, or a court or Department of Licensing ruling that a company impounded a car improperly, is listed as grounds for suspension from the list; continuous or flagrant overcharging is listed as grounds for revocation. The Department may forward complaints to the Department of Licensing, which handles tow-company complaints statewide.
Sources: ADMIN 0680-25-01 secs. 6.2-6.6; DOL: File a complaint
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