Part 2 – Licensing, Bonding, etc.
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 22-6 (2026)
§ 22-6 License required.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
No person may tow a disabled vehicle from any location in the City unless:
(1)
the person is licensed by the Police Commissioner under this subtitle as a medallion towing company; or
(2)
the person has been summoned by the vehicle owner’s or operator’s automobile or motor club or automobile insurance company.
(b)Applications.
Applications for a license must be in the form and contain the information that the Police Commissioner requires.
(c)Application fee.
The application must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of $250.
(d)Term and renewal.
(1)
Each medallion towing license expires annually on the anniversary of its issuance and is renewable as provided in this subsection.
(2)
To renew a license, the licensee must apply no less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the license expires.
(3)
The renewal application must be in the form and contain the information that the Police Commissioner requires.
(e)License fees.
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the annual license fee is:
(i)
$250 for the medallion towing company license, plus
(ii)
$100 for each medallion towing vehicle to be operated under that license.
(2)
For the 1<sup>st</sup> license year, the fee is $100 for each medallion towing vehicle to be operated under that license.
History: Ord. 57-998
History: Ord. 75-921
History: Ord. 90-509
History: Ord. 08-077
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 22-7 (2026)
§ 22-7 Qualifications of applicants.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
(1)
The rules and regulations adopted by the Police Commissioner shall specify the qualifications required for licensing under this subtitle.
(2)
Among other qualifications, these rules and regulations must seek to assure that:
(i)
an applicant has a significant business presence in the City and is thus capable of providing the services required by the Commissioner; and
(ii)
all towing vehicles to be operated under the license are adequate for the services required.
(b)Commissioner to investigate.
On receipt of an application for an initial license, the Police Commissioner shall investigate the qualifications of the applicant.
History: Ord. 08-077
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 22-8 (2026)
§ 22-8 Surety bond.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Bond required.
Every person licensed under this subtitle shall file with the Police Commissioner a bond to save harmless the owner of any vehicle for any property damage occurring while the vehicle is in that person’s possession.
(b)Amount.
The bond shall be in an amount of at least $20,000.
History: Ord. 57-998
History: Ord. 58-1271
History: Ord. 75-921
History: Ord. 08-077
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 22-9 (2026)
§ 22-9 Schedule of charges.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Schedule to be filed.
(1)
When applying for a license, the applicant shall file with the Police Commissioner a schedule that clearly sets forth that person’s proposed charges for towing and for services incident to towing.
(2)
These charges may be measured by mileage, time, and type of service.
(b)Maximum charges.
(1)Towing.
No matter how calculated, the towing charges may not exceed the amount of $150 per tow unless:
(i)
the vehicle is a commercial vehicle under <cite data-path="|31|§1-1|(f)">§ 1-1(f) {“Definitions – A to L: Commercial Vehicle”} of this article</cite>; or
(ii)
the tow of the vehicle:
(A)
requires removal from an embankment, ditch, waterway, trench, hole, or heavily wooded area; or
(B)
otherwise requires specialized and exceptional services for the vehicle’s removal.
(2)Storage.
The schedule must set a maximum storage fee of no more than $50 per day.
(c)No change without amended schedule.
A licensee may not change the charges without filing with the Police Commissioner an amended schedule that shows the proposed changes.
(d)Rejection of schedule.
(1)
The Police Commissioner may reject any proposed charges if, in the Commissioner’s opinion, the charges are excessive for the service to be performed.
(2)
In that case, the Commissioner shall return the proposed schedule or amended schedule to the applicant or licensee, as the case may be, with suitable notice of the reasons for rejecting it.
History: Ord. 57-998
History: Ord. 75-921
History: Ord. 08-077
History: Ord. 14-266
History: Ord. 14-307
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 22-10 (2026)
§ 22-10LinkCopy Citation
Reserved