Sacramento waives towed-car fees for some residents. Here’s who qualifies for debt relief

Low-income Sacramentans who have their car towed can get a waiver for the $180 police administrative fee, as part of a new program aimed at eliminating and reducing fines that disproportionately burden people of color and low-income residents.

In 2020, the city and county of Sacramento were selected to jointly participate in Cities and Counties for Fine and Fee Justice initiative led by PolicyLink, the city of San Francisco’s Financial Justice Project and the Fines and Fees Justice Center.

The initiative aims to reform “exploitative fine and fee policies that drive racial injustice, economic inequality and mass criminalization,” according to the 2020 announcement.

Waiving tow administrative fees was identified as “most feasible and impactful starting point,” Amy Williamson, the city’s financial empowerment center manager, said in a city blog post Monday announcing the program.

“We are looking at exploring other opportunities for fee reform such as a ‘Text Before Tow’ program that could allow residents to register for notifications before their vehicle is towed in some cases,” Williamson said in a statement.

For low-income people, a towed car can have dire consequences. Some may have more difficulty getting to work or may lose their job entirely. And for those unhoused, a towed car can mean the loss of shelter and possessions. In 2019, about 11% of the 3,900 unsheltered homeless people in Sacramento County slept in a vehicle on any given night.

If a low-income person’s car is towed, drivers can visit the Sacramento Police Department service counter to obtain a vehicle release form for the tow yard, as well as a short application for the waiver, according to Deputy Chief Norm Leong.

The waiver program only covers the city’s administrative fee; drivers will still have to pay fees owed to the tow yard.

To qualify, a single individual must make $41,275 or less, and a household of four must have a combined income of $79,500 or less.

The $200,000 new city program is funded with money from the American Rescue Plan Act. The city will assess the impact of the program after two years, according to city officials.

This story was originally published May 2, 2022 at 1:27 PM.