Sec. 26-142.10. Hearing; determination; appeals; fines and penalties
Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 26-142.10 (2026)
Sec. 26-142.10. Hearing; determination; appeals; fines and penaltiesLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Within twenty-one (21) days from the date notice is mailed by the towing company pursuant to Sections 26-142.08 or 26-142.09 of this Division, the owner or secured party of a vehicle which has been impounded may request that a hearing be held to determine whether the vehicle was properly towed and impounded under the provisions of this Division. The request for a hearing shall be made by filing a request-for-hearing form with the Director. Notice of the hearing shall be sent by certified .mail to the address provided by the vehicle owner on his request for hearing and to the tow company. Notice shall be mailed at least seven (7) working days prior to the scheduled hearing date.
(b)
The hearing shall be held within forty-five (45) working days after the request for a hearing is filed with the Director. The hearing shall be before a hearing officer designated by the County Attorney of Prince George's County. Such hearing officer shall not be a member of any state or local police department.
(c)
Determination as to whether vehicle was parked illegally.
(1)
If it is determined at the hearing that the vehicle was not parked on private property in violation of this Division, then the hearing officer shall issue an order that the vehicle be returned to the owner and that such owner is not liable for any of the towing, storage, or other charges incurred by the towing company in connection with the impoundment. If the owner has already paid such towing, storage, and other charges to the towing company, he shall be entitled to receive reimbursement of all such payments from the towing company.
(2)
If the hearing officer shall determine that the vehicle was illegally parked on private property in violation of this Division, then the owner of the vehicle may not reclaim it until he has paid to the towing company all towing and storage charges.
(d)
The failure by a tow company to attend a hearing, without just cause, shall result in a finding for the vehicle owner by the hearing officer. The Director may impose a fine of up to Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per hearing on any towing company for failing to attend a hearing under this Section. The towing company may also be subject to paying the owner's reasonable attorney fees if the owner retained the services of an attorney for the hearing.
(e)
The failure by a towing company to pay a reimbursement under subsection (c) and (d) of this section within fifteen (15) days of notice by the hearing officer, shall result in:
(1)
A suspension by the Director of the towing company license for a period of no less than ninety (90) days pursuant to Section 5-273 (a)(10) of the Code; and
(2)
A court in any subsequent civil action for enforcement of the decision finds the tow invalid and the amount charged was paid, the towing company shall pay the vehicle owner, in addition to the amount invalidly charged, liquidated damages of two (2) times the amount invalidly charged, but not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), and all reasonable costs of collection, including court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.