West Allis, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Contract award
- By bid, Board of Public Works
- Highway tow fee basis
- Wis. Stat. § 349.13(3)
- Private-property tow fee basis
- Wis. Stat. § 349.13(3m)
- Fee remittance
- Forwarded monthly to City treasurer
- Contract term
- Terminable at will by Council
Summary
West Allis charges a City-set administrative fee on every non-consent tow from a highway or private property, and requires the towing service to forward all collected fees to the City treasurer with the chief's monthly statement.
Administrative fee. The police department is authorized to charge a fee listed in the Fee Schedule for services related to the towing of vehicles from a highway under Wis. Stat. 349.13(3) or from private property under Wis. Stat. 349.13(3m). All service fees collected by a towing service under this paragraph shall be aggregated and forwarded together to the City treasurer at the same time as the statement is submitted to the police chief under subsection (3)(g). Vehicle Towing Regulations. Repossession. A person who repossesses a motor vehicle as collateral or goods subject to a motor vehicle consumer lease shall, before repossessing the motor vehicle, notify the chief of police about the repossession in the manner required by Wis. Stat. 425.2065 Vehicles Used for Reckless Driving Authority to Impound. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. 349.115, a law enforcement officer may impound any vehicle used in the commission of a violation of Wis. Stat. 346.62 or a local ordinance in strict conformity with Wis. Stat. 346.62 at the time of issuing a citation or making an arrest for the offense. The law enforcement officer impounding the vehicle shall make a reasonable effort to determine if the vehicle has been reported as stolen and, if the officer determines that the vehicle has been reported as stolen, make a reasonable attempt to contact the owner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: ?).
Full Breakdown
West Allis contracts a single towing company through a competitive bid process overseen by the Board of Public Works, and that contractor may not charge more than the fee schedule submitted with its bid when responding to a City-authorized tow. Separately, the Police Department collects an administrative fee, set in the City's Fee Schedule, on every tow performed under Wis. Stat. § 349.13(3) (from a highway) or § 349.13(3m) (from private property without consent). The contracted service must forward those collected fees to the City treasurer alongside its monthly sworn statement of towing activity submitted to the police chief.
Violations & Fines
A contractor that overcharges beyond its bid fee schedule, or fails to remit collected administrative fees to the City treasurer, breaches its towing contract, which the Common Council may terminate at will.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sets the tow fee in West Allis?
Can a private lot in West Allis have my car towed without my consent?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Allis
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