Glen Cove hikes towing charges

Glen Cove approved changes to towing charges, more than doubling costs to have a vehicle removed by a flatbed within the city.

The changes increase the cost of the first mile of a tow to $185, from $125, and doubles the charge of each additional mile to $10, from $5. Flat bed towing increased to $310 for the first mile, from $125, and the new rules also doubled each additional mile for flatbed towing to $10.

The new prices affect all licensed towing companies within Glen Cove, officials said.

The city passed the new law, 4-1. 

The city’s fees were “antiquated,” Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck said in a phone interview, making it difficult to attract new towing companies.

“It’s hard to get people to come tow cars,” Panzenbeck said.

The Towns of Oyster Bay and Hempstead set towing charges at $125 for the first mile and $5 for each additional mile, according to their town codes.

Glen Cove also hiked fees to store vehicles in the city and increased how much companies can charge for labor costs.

Using dollies or a flat-bed truck can now trigger a $75 labor charge, up from $20, and a $350 charge can be issued when "special skills" are used for overturning a vehicle, up from $40 for a half-hour of work. Debris cleaning can generate a $75 charge for a half-hour of work, up from $40. 

During Tuesday's meeting, Democratic Councilwoman Danielle Fugazy Scagliola moved to table the resolution for two weeks, suggesting the city take longer to consider the increase. The vote failed. 

“As I looked at these new charges that we’re allowing licensed tow truck companies to charge, I couldn’t find another municipality charging this much,” she said. "I want to make sure we're in line with the other municipalities."

By Joseph Ostapiuk

joseph.ostapiuk@newsday.com@OstapiukJ

Joseph Ostapiuk covers the Town of Oyster Bay and the city of Glen Cove. He joined Newsday in 2023 after spending more than six years at the Staten Island Advance.