A car towing company that was tossed off Jackson Township’s vehicle towing rotation list for allegedly overcharging people, has lost its appeal to have its suspension lifted.
Accurate Towing Service was among several other towing companies that were on a list which Jackson police officers would call to respond to motor vehicle accidents and tow vehicles as needed. These companies would be in a rotation, with different companies getting to respond to different accidents.
In 2017, Accurate Towing was suspended from the rotation list over allegations that it was charging drivers whose cars they towed exorbitant fees. The Jackson Police Department also slapped the company with dozens of summonses over improper billing and overbilling.
A letter sent by the Jackson Police Department to the towing company reads:
“Multiple allegations of improper customer billing, as well as other Township ordinance violations, have been made against your company, and are currently being investigated by the Police Department. As such, [Accurate Towing] is being suspended from both the light-duty and heavy-duty towing rotation indefinitely, until such time as the matter is thoroughly investigated.”
Accurate Towing sued Jackson Township, Police Chief Matthew Kunz, and a police officer named Trevor Crowley, arguing that the suspension violated its constitutional rights to due process and equal protection.
However, the appeals court found that the suspension was justified, ruling that “the record establishes that [Accurate Towing Services] was accorded the process due its limited right to be on the Township’s towing lists and there were no other constitutional violations.”
