TAMPA — A proposed class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Tampa drivers alleges a local towing company repeatedly collected a $250 lien-release fee in violation of a Hillsborough County towing resolution that requires a 48-hour waiting period before such a charge can be assessed.
The suit centers on the experience of Jamie Adair, who says his vehicle was towed from a downtown Tampa parking garage in September 2024 after being parked on an upper level reserved for another establishment. Adair tracked his Toyota Highlander to a Comm Tow impound lot on North Florida Avenue and says he paid more than $500 to recover it when employees presented a bill that included a $250 administrative lien-release fee.
What the lawsuit says and what county rules require
Attorney Craig Rothburd, representing Adair, says state law permits a towing company to charge a lien-release fee up to $250 but points to a Hillsborough County resolution adopted in 2023 that limits when that fee may be collected. According to Rothburd, the county ordinance bars towing operators from charging the lien-release fee until 48 hours have elapsed after the tow.
"You can't charge essentially a lien release fee until 48 hours have elapsed after the tow," Rothburd said, citing the Hillsborough County ordinance.
Comm Tow issued a media statement noting that Florida lawmakers authorized the lien-release fee to help towing operators offset rising costs. The company did not dispute the existence of the charge in Adair's bill, according to reporting, but the lawsuit contends the timing of the fee collection violated the county requirement.
Scale of the dispute and potential consequences for Tampa residents
The complaint alleges more than 1,000 people may have been affected by the towing company’s practice. If the class is certified, the litigation could prompt refunds, changes to billing procedures at local tow lots and renewed enforcement of the county towing resolution.
- Alleged improper charge: $250 lien-release fee included before 48-hour wait.
- Potential class size: more than 1,000 affected drivers (per complaint).
- Local touchpoints: vehicle tracked to Comm Tow impound lot on North Florida Avenue.
The dispute raises questions for drivers about how and when towing-related fees may legally be assessed in Hillsborough County. Drivers who retrieve vehicles soon after a tow may now scrutinize their receipts and seek legal guidance if they believe the county ordinance was ignored.
What residents should do now
Drivers who were towed and charged a $250 lien-release or administrative fee should review their paperwork and may consider contacting consumer counsel or county officials to determine whether their situation matches the allegations in the lawsuit. The county's towing resolution and state towing statutes will be central to how the case proceeds.
| Item | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Alleged fee | $250 administrative lien-release fee |
| County rule | 48-hour waiting period before lien-release fee may be charged (Hillsborough County resolution, 2023) |
| Representative plaintiff | Jamie Adair |
| Tow operator named | Comm Tow (impound lot on North Florida Avenue) |
The lawsuit and the county towing resolution have underscored the balance local officials aim to strike between allowing towing operators to recover costs and protecting consumers from premature or excessive charges. Hillsborough County enforcement and any responses from Comm Tow will shape whether additional relief is available to affected Tampa drivers.
