July 5, 2010, 12 a.m. - The Prince George’s County Department of Environmental Resources (DER) issues an urgent reminder to towing and management companies that if they provide non-consensual towing activities from a property, they need to comply with the provisions relating to the approval, location and contents of towing signs as stated in CB-40-2009 by the deadline date of July 9, 2010.

 

Towing and management companies that do not comply with the following provisions by July 9, 2010 will be subject to a $250 fine for the first offense and a $500 fine for any subsequent offense.

 

The provisions in CB-40-2009 require the following:

·         Property owners must receive approval from DER on the design, size and content for any signs indicating authorized parking on posted property; and

·         All parking signs on posted property must:

-     Be posted in a location that is clearly visible from each entrance to the property;

-     Be at least 18 inches by 24 inches in size and made of a reflective material that is visible in low

      light;

-          Include the international tow truck symbol, telephone number and name of each towing company hired to tow unauthorized vehicles from the property, and the address of the location where the vehicle can be reclaimed.  The towing company must answer the telephone number listed on the sign 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and

-          Include the following wording in block form with each line centered:

ALL UNAUTHORIZED PARKING PROHIBITED.  VEHICLES MAY

BE TOWED WITHOUT NOTICE AT THE OWNER’S EXPENSE.

 

CB-40-2009 took effect on Jan. 8, 2010 and amended the provisions relating to towing regulations and the towing of unauthorized vehicles from private property.  A 90-day extension was granted from the effective date of January 8 to comply with the sign regulations.  DER granted the second 90-day extension allowable by law on April 8, 2010.  No further extensions are allowed under the new towing regulations.

 

For more information and approval on the location, design and content of signs indicating authorized parking on private property, please contact DER’s Abandoned Vehicle Team at (301) 952-1873.  For more information regarding CB-40-2009 and the amendments relating to towing regulations and fees, please visit DER’s website at http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DER/.