Possible changes to how much towing companies can charge in Bowling Green may face a legal challenge.

At a city retreat Jan. 22, Bowling Green officials discussed lowering the maximum amount towing companies could charge for vehicles towed from private lots.

Bowling Green’s current towing ordinance allows towing companies to charge up to $175 to retrieve vehicles after they are towed, and permits a $100 fee to remove a boot from a car.

Officials discussed placing a $50 cap on both boot removal and vehicle retrieval, and a $25 after-hours fee currently in place would be eliminated completely.

In response, the attorney representing Fountain Square Towing and owner Brian “Slim” Nash claims that the change is directed at the company, which has a history of disputes with the city.

“This is an attempt to target one business in this town — Fountain Square Towing,” Alan Simpson told the Daily News. “The city doesn’t like it and they decided to target, now directly, someone’s livelihood.”

A three-page letter was sent from Simpson to the city Tuesday afternoon outlining some concerns with a “lack of understanding” about the towing business.

It states that having a towing presence in parking lots has led to a decrease in crime and prevents unlawful dumping of trash and other “unmentionables” on private property.

“ … Be advised that this proposal will meet opposition both in public forums and in the court system,” the letter states.

City Attorney Hillary Hightower declined to comment on the letter.

Possible changes to the ordinance were discussed at length during the city’s strategic planning meeting. No action was taken on the ordinance then, but officials planned to have a revised ordinance on the agenda for a vote at the Feb. 17 commission meeting.

“I think it’s become like a hunting game,” City Manager Jeff Meisel said about towing in Bowling Green during the meeting. “When you’re charging an exorbitant amount for towing, it’s a lucrative business.”

The $50 caps would only apply to vehicles parked in privately owned parking lots. If someone is on a roadway and needs their car towed, the company’s normal rate would still apply.

Simpson said if the rates are lowered to $50, it would impede companies’ ability to do business.

“ … They shouldn’t be in the business of trying to tell a business owner, you can only charge this much for your service — we don’t care what your expenses are, you can only charge this much,” Simpson said. “ … There’s no way that anyone could operate with what they’re proposing.”

Friction between the city and Fountain Square Towing has existed for some time.

Nash in 2024 alleged that law enforcement and city government were “targeting” his business. He told the Daily News then that the relationship between his company and the city had turned “adversarial,” due in part to an increase in complaints made to the city about towed vehicles.

According to city officials at the time, out of 30 complaints made about towing to the Bowling Green Police Department, 29 involved Fountain Square Towing..

BGPD Chief Michael Delaney told the Daily News then that his department was not looking to be adversarial toward the company.

“I’m trying to help those who don’t have a voice for themselves and don’t know the process, so it’s not adversarial,” Delaney said in 2024. “We’re just navigating this and trying to be the mediators in all this, and we’re getting resistance from the tow company.”

The city has published maps online that show public parking spaces and increased signage has been placed around downtown Bowling Green, most notably on the downtown parking garage.

Some towing companies are receptive to the pricing proposal.

Lewis “Junior” Walker, who owns Walker Towing Service, told the Daily News he believes the updated ordinance is a good idea.

“I’m with them 100%,” Walker said. “ … If they can get that passed, I think it’ll help the community.”

Walker said his company does not do private parking lot monitoring/towing.

He said his company gets $85 on a regular towing job in the city.

Other companies “are charging way more than it’s worth (towing) on private property,” he said.