In the wake of concern and confusion, the towing committee for Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners is hosting a three-part series to educate residents on the police towing policy, how to have impound fees waived, and how to file complaints.
Each session will be held downtown at the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, located at 1301 Third St. Residents can attend via Zoom, Towing Committee Chairman Cedric Banks said in a press release.
The first session will be at 4 p.m. on May 28 and focus on the board’s oversight role in police towing, the police department’s policies, and towing and storage fee waivers.
BridgeDetroit reported in September that auto theft victims were being charged to retrieve their stolen vehicle from the Detroit Police Department’s towing and impound lot, despite a 2022 announcement from Mayor Mike Duggan and former Police Chief James White that victims would no longer be charged. Victims who paid the improper fees can request a reimbursement from the Towing and Impound Unit.
Following BridgeDetroit’s reporting, 85 people requested a reimbursement. Of those, 79 have been approved, totaling $45,000. Six reimbursement requests were denied for not meeting the criteria, a DPD spokesperson confirmed. BridgeDetroit followed one victim through the reimbursement process, which took about five months.
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DPD told BridgeDetroit in February that refund requests are determined on a case-by-case basis and processing time can vary based on several factors, including the type of refund, the circumstances surrounding the refund, and the paperwork needed to process it. The victim who BridgeDetroit followed through the process paid in cash when she recovered her vehicle.
Representatives from the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and Detroit’s Office of the Auditor General will join the board at 4 p.m. on June 25 for a discussion on who controls towing fees and how to file a formal complaint about excessive towing bills.
The board will summarize the topics discussed at the first two meetings during a 4 p.m. community forum on July 30, where the public can ask questions and voice any concerns.
For more information about BOPC and civilian oversight, visit detroitmi.gov/bopc or call (313) 596-1830.