transport.tamu.edu
Tow Policy Discussion
• Suggesting some changes to our tow policy• Current tow policy• Industry best practices• Benefits of implementing best practices• Revenue implications of implementing best
practices
transport.tamu.edu
Current Tow PolicyRelated to Revenue Collections
Published Policy:Customers with 3 or more or $100 or more unpaid citations are eligible for tow
Practice:• Billable customer vehicles with 4 or more unpaid citations are
relocated to lot 88• Unaffiliated customer vehicles with 4 or more citations are towed to
wrecker lot with a hold until citation fees are paid• Employee vehicles with 4 or more citations AND who have been
issued a tow warning are towed to wrecker lot with a hold until citation fees are paid
• No towing after 3 pm Friday, overnight or on weekends• Late fee/early payment $10 discount 14 days after issue date• Issue citation due notices 5 and 15 days after issued date of citation
and monthly thereafter (beginning of semester will change to 1, 7, 15 day notices)
transport.tamu.edu
Challenges with Current Policy/Practice
• Different practices for different customer classifications
• Not doing what “we say we do”• Hinders consistency in:– Communication to customers about what they can
expect– Training– Revenue collection
transport.tamu.edu
Citation Statistics for FY10
Total citations issued FY10: 57,626Total vehicles cited FY10: 31,655
• 32.73% (18,860) of the citations issued during the last fiscal year were 9.62% (3,045) of the vehicles cited.
• Total number of citations issued per year is decreasing: 2010: 60,000/year2005: 65,000/year
2001: 108,000/year
transport.tamu.edu
Most Frequently Written Violations
The 4 violations written most often are:• No Permit – 21,686• Unauthorized area – 18,358• Pay-by-Space violation – 7,137• Time violation – 4,768
Per year percentage of violations from these four categories:
• 2009-10: 89%• 2008-09: 88%• 2007-08: 87%
transport.tamu.edu
Unpaid Citation Balances
Citation balances outstanding more than 2 years are
written off as uncollectible:
2008: $161,9652009: $126,4882010: $107,410
transport.tamu.edu
Citation Collection
BEST PRACTICE:Implement consistent policies and practices
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION:– Billable customers- Relocate to on-campus lot vehicles with 3 or more
unpaid citations– Non-billable customers - Issue tow warnings in conjunction with 2nd
violation and tow vehicles with 3 or more unpaid citations
transport.tamu.edu
Citation CollectionBENEFITS:• Gain consistency in:
– Practices– Communication to customers about what they can expect– Training– Revenue collection
• Increases compliance with the rules and creates better availability of parking for paying customers
• Opportunity to offer wait list choices more quickly due to fewer violators cluttering popular lots
transport.tamu.edu
Citation Collection
BEST PRACTICE:Relocate/Tow customers with balances > 90 days old or > $100
BENEFIT:• Disincentive to allow balances > 90 days old or > $100 to remain unpaid• Increases compliance with the rules and creates better availability of
parking for all other customers• Opportunity to offer wait list choices more quickly due to fewer violators
cluttering popular lots
transport.tamu.edu
Citation BalancesOutstanding citation balances from customers who have fewer than 3
DUE citations where at least one of the due citations is greater than or equal to 90 days old:– Total # of customers in this category: 4,717– Total # of citations due in this category: 5,938– Total $ associated with this category: $245,711
Outstanding citation balances from customers who have fewer than 3 DUE citations where balance due is greater than or equal to $100:– Total # of customers in this category: 4,457– Total # of citations due in this category: 5,155– Total $ associated with this category: $213,511
transport.tamu.edu
Citation Collection
BEST PRACTICE:Consistent practices on weekdays, evenings and weekends
BENEFIT:• Customers consistently know what to expect• Increases compliance with the rules and creates better availability of
parking for paying customers• Opportunity to offer wait list choices more quickly due to fewer violators
cluttering popular lots• Installation of after hours payment terminal enables releasing towed
vehicles after 3 pm Friday and on weekends
transport.tamu.edu
Citation Collection
BEST PRACTICE:Additional $10 escalation of citations 30 days past due
BENEFIT:Provides disincentive for allowing balances to remain unpaid
transport.tamu.edu
Citation Collection
BEST PRACTICE:Additional escalation of citation fines when individuals have 3 or more
citations in any of top four citation categories:1. unauthorized area2. no valid permit3. time parking4. pay by space violation
BENEFIT:• Provides additional disincentive for continuing to violate the rules• Increases compliance with the rules and creates better availability of
parking for paying customers• Opportunity to offer wait list choices more quickly due to fewer violators
cluttering popular lots
transport.tamu.edu
Questions?