The Prince George’s County Council held a public hearing Tuesday night to discuss legislation that would limit towing charges and help protect customers from “fly-by-night companies,” county Del. Doyle L. Niemann said.

Nearly 60 delegates and county residents attended the meeting at Prince George’s Community College to discuss the bill, which would cap towing fees at $100 and storage fees at $35. While residents spoke in favor of the legislation, local towing companies expressed their opposition.

The bill would crack down on dishonest companies and increase overall communication between police and the industry, Niemann said. Though companies are legally bound to report their activities to the police, they rarely do, Niemann said.

“There are many good companies, but we are also plagued with renegades and out-of-control companies,” Niemann said. “Our goal is to create rate structure but not allow arbitrary, facetious charges.”

Residents praised the bill, saying it would help “thousands of victims that have no recourse.”

“These people need to be handled,” said Queen Robinson, a county resident. Her husband’s car was illegally towed by T & H Towing of Bladensburg from a parking lot where they had permission to park, she said. The company first charged them $300 for fees and one day’s storage but then drastically increased the cost to $1,850 after Robinson attempted – but failed – to get police involved, she said.

However, companies said the legislation would put honest ones out of business.

“This is a very complicated, multi-faceted bill that goes beyond what the sponsor initiated,” said Michael F. Canning, a lawyer representing the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland. “Private business has an enormous cost of expenses – to set a cap is not reasonable, fair or workable.”

Tiffany Hanna, a lawyer from the Funk and Bolton Law Firm who represented Henry Wrecker’s Service, agreed with Canning and said the legislation would “limit towers for years to come.”

“The majority are legitimate and the legislation would push companies out of the county,” she said. “When you limit some to a cap, you put them out of business.”

Fred Scheler, president of the organization and CEO of Henry’s Wrecker Service, said many illegal companies could be eradicated if police enforced the towing regulations already in place.

“I agree there are renegade companies, but the laws in place now could stop all those companies, if enforced,” he said. “Ninety percent of bad companies would disappear, for example, if police enforced the law that towing companies must have a solid place of business, not just their truck. But they don’t.”

Nevertheless, both the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland and Niemann agreed to collaborate to amend the bill so it would both serve the community and the industry.

“Together with the authorized towing companies, we can craft something that addresses the problem and helps consumers that are truly being ripped off,” Niemann said. “Between now and the time to work into session, we can work together.”

Contact reporter Roxana Hadadi at roxanadbk@gmail.com.