PITTSBURGH -- Team 4 investigations have exposed example after example of towing pirates laying in wait for unsuspecting car owners. They charge more than Pittsburgh law allows and accept only cash payments.

On Friday, Team 4's Jim Parsons reported that city and state lawmakers said enough is enough at a City Council hearing.

"They can take your car, hold it hostage," said Dr. Angelo Constantino, of West Penn Hospital.

Constantino is still angry about his car being towed last winter from a South Side parking lot. He said he was there for a medical meeting. When he found his car at a private tow lot, he was forced to pay $170 cash, even though the city ordinance requires towers to accept credit cards and only allows a maximum charge of $110 for a non-consensual tow.

"Certainly takes away any more incentive to come to the city," Constantino said. "There is a lot of competition out there for entertainment, and I can go the suburbs and not have to fear being towed, so I haven't been in the city for a play or a restaurant since."

"We share in your concern that innocent citizens are being taken advantage of by a few predatory towers who aren't playing by the rules. AAA simply detests this type of conduct," said Brian Newbacher, a local spokesman for AAA.

City Council members heard from the towing and insurance industries, as well as two state lawmakers -- all of whom support a pending bill that would require towers to be licensed and follow the rules.

"We are trying to make sure that they are professional, they provide a professional service and that the industry is regulated to an extent that our consumers and constituents are protected," said state Rep. Dom Costa, D-Pittsburgh.

But Costa, the city's former police chief, said passing a new law is worthless unless it is enforced.

"The city needs to step up," said Costa. "We need an enforcement process that will go after the owner of the property and the people that are illegally taking these vehicles off of the property."

Police Chief Nate Harper admits that his officers have not been enforcing the towing ordinance for years, but he told Team 4 that is about to change. He said he will send a memo to all officers with a copy of the ordinance attached.

City officials say they also suspect some towing companies doing a cash-only business have not paid all the taxes they owe.

January 15, 2009: Team 4: 'Towing Pirates' Could Target Your Car

April 7, 2009: Team 4: Pittsburgh's Car Towing Law Not Being Enforced

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