HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - January 5, 1994 (34)CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE: Proposed Fee Increase for Lodi Police Department
Services
MEETING DATE: January 5, 1994
PREPARED BY: Police Chief
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council authorize the Lodi
Police Department to increase the civilian
fingerprint fee to $15.00 and the police
report fee to $10.00 for the first 25 pages
and 25C per page thereafter.
It is also requested that the City Council authorize Lodi Police
Department to charge a fee of $30.00 for vehicles that are towed
by our agency.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Please refer to the attached memos
from Captain Schick and Acting Captain
David Main. Both of these supervisors
will be at the Council meeting to
answer any questions.
FUNDING: None Required
L rry Hansen
Chief of Police
LDH:sm
cc: City Attorney
APPROVED - -1 -------- — -- --- --- ---- -- - ��
THOMAS A PETERSON ec�r.a u<•
City Manager
cc
L O D I P O L I C 3 D E P A R T M E N T
M e m o r a n d u m
To: Chief Larry D. Hansen
From: Captain James Schick
Date: December 13, 1993
Subject: Proposed Fee Increases
I recommend increasing the fees charged for police reports and
civilian fingerprinting. The current fee for police reports is
$2.25 for the first page and $.25 for each additional page. I
propose this be increased to $10.00 for reports up to 25 pages and
$.25 per page thereafter. The current fingerprinting fee is $3.00.
I recommend an increase to $15.00.
The reproduction of a police report entails locating the report,
scanning the report to verify it may be released, the actual
photocopying, completion of a receipt, and refiling the original
document. The recommended increase is comparable to the fees
charged by other law enforcement agencies. Please refer to the
attachment for comparison fees.
our current civilian fingerprinting fee is unreasonable. While we
wish to provide a service to the community, this fee causes
unnecessary work for staff. From June thru November of 1993, 349
civilians were fingerprinted. Many of these people were not
residents of our community. People have come to this department
from as far away as Modesto because the fee is so low. The present
fee scarcely covers the cost of purchasing and completing the
receipt, let alone material and labor costs to do the actual
fingerprinting. Mail Sox Etc., a private business, and the
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) do fingerprinting in Lodi. Refer
to the attachment for comparison fees charged by these entities and
other law enforcement agencies.
December 13, ..43
Page 2
In conclusion, I want to add that these harsh economic times demand
review of all areas of service. We must charge fees which are
equitable yet reasonable. This recommendation meets that criteria.
The requested increases are comparable with other agency and private
business fees while allowing the City of Lodi to recover reasonable
expenses for providing these services.
Respectfully submitted,
Captain James Schick
Support Services Commander
attachment
�l
POLICE REPORT FEES
MANTECA PD $10.00 for first 5 pages; .25 cents per additional page
SACRAMENTO PD 10.00 regardless of length
TRACY PD 10.00 for traffic reports; $5.00 for crime reports
SAN JOAQUIN CO.
SHERIFF 10.00 for first 25 pages; .25 cents per additional page
GALT PD 10.00 by mail; $7.50 for first 5 pages; .25 cents per
additional page
MODESTO PD 8.00 regardless of length
STOCKTON PD 6.50 for first 7 pages; .50 cents per additional page
CALIF. HIGHWAY
PATROL 6.00 for first 25 pages; .25 cents per additional page
LODI PD 2.25 for first page; .25 cents per additional page
FINGERPRINT FEES
All fees listed are for two fingerprint cards.
MANTECA PD $10.00
SACRAMENTO PD ***does NOT do civilian fingerprinting
TRACY PD 10.00
SAN JOAQUIN SHERIFF 15.00
GALT PD 7.50
STOCKTON PD 11.50
MODESTO 10.00*** does CITY RESIDENTS ONLY
DMV 20.00
MAILBOX ETC. 15.00
LODI PD 3.00
L O D I P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T
M e m o r a n d u m
To Chief Larry Hansen
Captain Jerry Adams
From: David J. Main
Patrol Lieutenant
Date: September 8, 1993
Subject: TOWED VEHICLE RELEASE COST RECOVERY
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I would like to propose the city of Lodi adopt a towed vehicle
release fee as a form of cost recovery. This release fee would
be imposed upon owners and or drivers of vehicles which are
ordered towed by police. Victims of crimes such as the owners
of stolen autos would be exempt. In most instances police
orders a vehicle towed when the driver and or owner has been
arrested and charged with violations such as D.U.I., driving
with a suspended or revoked license, unlicensed driver,
criminal violations, registration being expired for over one
year, etc.
Under our current system, whenever a vehicle is ordered towed
by police or whenever an abandoned auto is towed the tax payers
assume the costs. This proposal would attempt to recover the
actual costs to the city and place the financial obligation on
the suspect. The recovery costs include salary, fringe
benefits, and equipment costs.
While on the surface it may appear that the time involved in
the towing of a vehicle may be minimal, closer evaluation
indicates there is actually a great deal of time and energy
involved in the towing of just one vehicle.
The proposed fee would be required to be paid to the city of
Lodi in order for the vehicle to be released to the owner. The
collection of the fee, issuance of the receipt, and release
will be handled by records personnel during business hours.
Failure to pay the fee would result in the vehicle being held
until payment is mads.
The proposed fee of $30.00 is a conservative amount in what it
costs the city of Lodi to tow a vehicle. It is not designed to
make a profit. Government code section 54992 explains the
procedure for implementing fees or recovering costs. Cities
cannot by law charge a fee above the estimated amount required
to provide the service. Also any action taken by a local
agency to recover costs shall only be taken by local ordinance
and resolution.
4
There are numerous law enforcement agencies throughout
California recovering city costs for the towing of vehicles.
To follow is a list of agencies and what they charge. These
figures are about six months old and may in fact be higher.
1. Fremont P.D.
2. Newark P.D.
3. San Leandro P.D.
4. San Jose P.D.
5. Livermore P.D.
6. Gilroy P.D.
7. E. Palo Alto
8. Campbell P.D.
9. Los Altos
10. Modesto P.D
11. Manteca P.D.
12. Hayward P.D;
13. Antioch P.D.
14. Los Gatos P.D.
15. Oakland P.D.
16. Pittsburg P.D.
17. Concord P.D.
$43.00
$50.00
$40.00
$41.50
Looking into it.
$35.00
$25.00
$25.00
Looking into it.
$15.00
$20.00
$50.00
None
None
Looking into it.
$56.00
$25.00
The following is a break down on the duties and
responsibilities of all involved personnel whenever a car is
ordered towed by police.
POLICE OFFICER:
Stop violator
Determine tow criteria
Communicate with dispatch via radio.
Complete tow sheet.
Inventory vehicle.
Wait for tow truck.
Deliver paper work directly to station for entry.
TIME INVOLVED: 30 minutes.
Top step police officer including fringe benefit package is
$29.95 per hour.
COST: $14.90
DISPATCHER:
Conununicate with officer via radio
Telephone tow company
Tow company log entry.
Receive tow report and review document.
Run vehicle registration information and broadcast information
to the field unit.
Apply tow information to tc4 sheet.
Enter towed vehicle information into computer system.
Time involved: 15 minutes
Top step for dispatcher including fringe benefit package is
$21.70 per hour.
COST: $5.40
RECORDS PERSONNEL:
Locate vehicle reports and separate from all others.
Make photo copies.
Distribution of copies.
Send notification to registered owner.
Follow paper trail.
When vehicle claimed, obtain report, answer questions, issue
release, and receipt.
Time involved: 30 minutes
Top step for records personnel including fringe benefit package
is $15.23 per hour.
COST: $7.50
Total cost breakdown:
Police Officer $14.90 ~"
Dispatcher $5.40
Records $7.50
Total $27.80
I would recommend the fee be $30.00 because there are other T.
costs which are hidden or incidental which easily justify the
added $2.20. The following is a list of these costs:
Administration of this program.
Copy machine overhead.
Sergeant or Lieutenant to review and approve vehicle report.
Vehicle overhead. (Cost to run a police vehicle is estimated to
be about $13.00 per hour)
Postal costs to mails notices.
Rare tow hearings administered by the watch commander.
As you can see the city of Lodi could easily justify the fee of
$30.00. The actual cost is higher, but I feel this fee would
recover most of what it takes to provide the service and limit
criticism that the city is attempting to make a profit.
Projected income:
The number of vehicles towed each month by the department
varies. About fifty percent of all the vehicles ordered towed
by this department represent abandoned autos. Of those
vehicles towed as abandoned only about five percent are
claimed, therefore cost recovery from the towing of abandoned
autos would be minimal. Cost recovery from all other vehicles
towed would be nearly one hundred percent.
on an average the department tows about 10 to 20 abandoned
autos per month. All other tows range from 30 upwards. If the
department were to tow 30 cars per month, other than abandoned
the city would recover approximately $900.00 per month which
works out to $lg800.00 per year. Keep in mind these _
projections are estimations and could increase or decrease. It
would be very difficult to come up with specific numbers as it
would require to hand search all cases as the towing of
vehicles are not specifically tracked. Last week alone the
department towed well over twenty vehicles.
I hope you will give serious consideration to this proposal. I
am confident if implemented the city would be able to recover {
the majority of the cost to provide this service. Programs
like this have been quite successful all over the state of
California and continue to be implemented everywhere. Citizen i
complaints from these specific forms of cost recovery have been
minimal. I would also like to explore the possibility of
having funds raised from this area ear marked for law
enforcement related equipment. Attached is a sample copy of
policy and procedure as well as the release from.
,Av7ec�lly Submitted,
David J. Main
Patrol Lieutenant
TOWED VEHICLE RELEASE FEE
27-13 PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to establish
a towed vehicle release fee under circumstances in which a
vehicle is ordered towed by Police under the provisions listed
under section 27-15.
27-14 POLICY: Whenever a vehicle is towed and stored under
the provisions listed under 27-15, the officer or employee
ordering the tow will supply the driver of the vehicle if
present, with "The Instructions for recovering towed vehicles"
form and the cost recovery program will come into effect.
27-15 TOWING AUTHORITIES IN WHICH THE TOWED VEHICLE
RELEASE FEE WOULD APPLY TO:
22651 a Vehicle left unattended on bridge/obstructs
traffic.
22651 b Traffic Hazard on highway.
22651 d Blocking private driveway.
22651 a Preventing access to fire hydrant.
22651 h Driver arrested.
22651 i Five or more days, five or more parking
tickets.
22651 j Illegally parked without license plates or
other evidence of current registration.
22651 k Abandoned auto. (Excess 72 hrs.)
22651 1 Obstructing cleaning, construction, or
repair equipment when posted 24 hours in advance.
22651 m Obstructing house moving.
22651 n Posted "No Parking Tow Away Zone.
22651 o Expired registration over one year.
22651 p Driver is 12500, 14601, 14601.1, or 14601.2.
22655.3 Driver involved in pursuit.
22652.2 Parked in handicap stalls in lot.
.rJ
22653 b Involved in accident. No owner present.
PRIVATE PROPERTY.
22655 A Vehicle involved in hit and run.
22656 Vehicle parked on or within 7 1/2 feet of
rail road tracks.
27-16 PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: The administration of the
program will fall under the direction of the support services
bureau. Records personnel will be responsible for the
collection of the fees. Vehicle release fees will only be
collected during normal business hours. Exceptions may be
granted by the watch commander.
27-17 VEHICLE IMPOUND PROCEDURE:
POLICE OFFICER:
Stop Violator
Identify violator
Impound vehicle
Complete 180 tow sheet
Wait for tow truck
Inventory vehicle
Deliver tow report to dispatch
Provide owner/vehicle with instructions to recover vehicle.
Dispatcher:
Telephone tow company
Entry into tow log
Run vehicle registration
Enter impound vehicle information into system
Co-worker to review.
Records Clerk:
Inspect owners identification
Check owner for valid license if applicable
Check vehicle registration for current fees if applicable
Complete impound letter to owner.
Complete release fee, collect fee, and sign same.
L 0 D I P O L I C E
D `E P A R T H E N T
AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE STORED VEHICLE
DATE: CASE NUMBER:
OWNER/DRIVER:
VEHICLE LICENSE: MAKE:
EMPLOYEE Au'THORIZING RELEASE: NO.
AMERICAN TOW
510 RAILROAD "B"
LODI
334-5010
GEAIM TOW
102 HANSEN
LODI
334-6500
WATAGA TOW
880 S. BECKMAN
LODI
333-2097
PACIFIC :'OW
- 820 S. BECKMAN
LODI
369-0644
PLUM:R TOW
1011 S. CHEROKEE
LODI
369-3573
STUBBS TOW
400 N. CLUFF
LODI
368-5344
OTHER:
RESOLUTION NO. 94-06
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A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
APPROVING AMENDED FES SCHEDULE FOR CERTAIN POLICE
DEPARTMENT SERVICES
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RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Lodi does hereby T
approve amending the fee schedule for certain Police Department
Services as follows:
Civilian Fingerprint Fee $15.00'
Police Report Fee $10.00 (first 25 pages)
$ .25 (each page thereafter)
Vehicle Towing Charge $30.00
(Vehicles towed by our agency)
Dated: January 5, 1994
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 94-06 was passed and
adopted by the City Council of the City of Lodi in a regular
meeting held January 5, 1994 by the following vota:
Ayes: Council Members -
Noes: Council Members -
Absent: Council Members -
RES9406/TXTA.02J
Mann, Pennino, Snider,
and Sieglock (Mayor)
Davenport
None
r
e Perrin
City Clerk
94-06