Falls Church officials appear split on whether it’s a good idea to impose a “second signature” requirement before vehicles are towed from private property.
But before the matter circles back to City Council members for a final decision, it will move through at least one advisory body and a public-review process.
Council members on Monday night (Feb. 3) discussed a series of potential changes to the city’s trespass-towing ordinance during a work session.
And has been the case when other Northern Virginia localities have tried to decide how to go, opinions were divided.
“Second signature” refers to having someone from the business where the tow is taking place sign off on it in real time. Currently, property owners can give blanket authorization to towing companies to conduct the tow.
Requiring an on-site, real-time signature “increases the likelihood of violent conflict,” said City Council member David Snyder.
“I do worry a little … it could be confrontational,” Council member Laura Downs said.
But Council member Marybeth Connelly pronounced herself “all in for second signature.”
“It seems more consumer-friendly,” she said.
The split was not unlike that of the Arlington County Board, which late last year ultimately opted not to impose a second-signature requirement.
The county’s Chamber of Commerce strongly opposed a second signature, as did the Apartment & Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington.
Around 2010, Falls Church officials considered a second-signature requirement but ultimately decided against it, City Manager Wyatt Shields said.
There currently is no timeline for city leaders to consider changes to the towing ordinance, which last was updated in 2016. First, consideration would go to the Towing Advisory Board, which hasn’t meet for several years, Shields said.
That body now has a full complement of three members, and will meet soon.
Hardi noted that, until recently, all Virginia localities except those in Northern Virginia had the authority to impose a second-signature requirement, and several do.
Changes in state law last year gave Northern Virginia jurisdictions equal authority, and Hardi said it was worth considering.
“I think we should explore it,” Hardi said, acknowledging that “it’s definitely a tricky one, a tricky balance.”
There were 825 trespass tows from private property in Falls Church last year, according to city data. That’s down from 1,113 a year before.
Falls Church has no tow lots within its 2.2 square miles, city officials said. Henry’s Wrecker Service, which does much of the trespass towing in Falls Church, has lot space in Merrifield, while other lots are found in Arlington and elsewhere.
State law requires that a tow lot be located no more than 3 miles from a jurisdiction’s border.
