June 16, 2025 at 5:35 AM
austin.baeth@legis.iowa.gov, sean.bagniewski@legis.iowa.gov, tony.bisignano@legis.iowa.gov, matt.blake@legis.iowa.gov, mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov, claire.celsi@legis.iowa.gov, ruthann.gaines@legis.iowa.gov, bill.gustoff@legis.iowa.gov, rob.johnson@legis.iowa.gov, izaah.knox@legis.iowa.gov, jennifer.konfrst@legis.iowa.gov, brian.lohse@legis.iowa.gov, mary.madison@legis.iowa.gov, heather.matson@legis.iowa.gov, larry.mcburney@legis.iowa.gov, brian.meyer@legis.iowa.gov, rick.olson@legis.iowa.gov, janet.petersen@legis.iowa.gov, mike.pike@legis.iowa.gov, megan.srinivas@legis.iowa.gov, ryan.weldon@legis.iowa.gov, jack.whitver@legis.iowa.gov, eddie.andrews@legis.iowa.gov
decision.makers@change.org 

Dear Senators and Representatives, 

I am writing you because your districts are all within Polk County and Crow Tow is a predatory towing company that has private contracts with businesses and property owners all over Polk County and we need your help! 

I wanted to make you aware of the petition: 

https://www.change.org/p/stop-predatory-towing-in-iowa 

As of today, 7,782 people have signed the petition asking Iowa legislators to enact Anti-Predatory Towing laws to protect Iowa drivers and visitors to Iowa from predatory towing companies like Crow Tow. 

The United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) has released several reports that outline the problem with predatory towing and argues against “bounty systems” where towing companies patrol lots in return for paying the property owner or one of their agents a fee for each vehicle removed. When towing companies pay property owners or their agents for each towed vehicle, it creates a financial incentive to tow as many cars as possible, regardless of whether the parking violation is minor or if the vehicle is actually obstructing anything. 

The reports raise serious concerns about the potential for abuse within towing bounty systems because:
*Lack of Oversight- this system lacks the oversight that would be present if the property owner or designated agent were solely responsible for initiating tows 

*Potential for Abuse- the potential for unscrupulous towing companies to find minor or even fabricated parking violations in order to profit from the bounty system is a serious concern 

*Increased Risk of Wrongful Towing- when tow companies pay kickbacks or bounties for towing referrals, it creates a financial incentive to have vehicles towed, even if they are not truly improperly parked or causing significant problems. 

*Lack of Evidence & Accountability- in many states, there are no requirements for photographic evidence to document improper parking before a tow occurs. Combined with the absence of kickback bans, this lack of documentation makes it easier for unethical towing companies and property owners to collude and justify unwarranted tows. 

*Encouraging Abusive Practices- the bounty system essentially encourages “spotters” to monitor private property lots and call in tow companies for minor or debatable parking violations, potentially leading to unfair or illegal towing. 

*Profit Over Principal- business owners might see the bounty system as an easy way to make money by having vehicles removed, regardless of whether the situation warrants a tow 

*Illegal of Unjustified Tows- towing vehicles that are in not in violation of parking rules to increase revenue *Exorbitant Fees- charging excessive fees for towing and storage
*Lack of Transparency- failing to provide itemized bills or clear info about fees 

The reports can be found here: 

https://publicinterestnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Getting-off-the-Hook-of-a-Predatory-Tow.pdf https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/getting-hook-predatory-tow-part-ii-2/ 

I have more information to share but first would like to see if any of you are interested or willing to sponsor a bill to create the laws needed to protect people from the unethical business practices that predatory towing companies operate under or if there is someone you can recommend that I contact regarding this issue. 

Thank you for you time! 

Sincerely,
Heather Gulbranson