Have you had your vehicle stolen and later recovered by the Police Department, and then been told you will need to go to an area tow lot to retrieve it? At the tow lot, you are expected to pay for the tow and storage fees. Many feel victimized twice with this current process. The only winners are the thieves who enjoyed your vehicle and used it for their own gains. Many of them know there is little chance they will be caught and prosecuted for this crime. Unless the police actually catch the thief in the car the consequences are minor.

For you, the victim, the consequences can be major. If you are a single parent trying to get your child to daycare and yourself to work without a car, it can be almost impossible. How do you afford the tow and storage fees, not to mention the likely repairs to your vehicle? Many owners can only afford to carry liability insurance that will not cover the fees or repairs.

This is how the current process works: the U.G. contracts for services from tow lot operators. The contract does not address who is responsible for the tow and storage fees although someone must pay. It does permit the KCK Police Dept., through a Captain or higher-ranking officer, and the Wyandotte County Sheriff or Under-sheriff to release vehicles without charges. The KCKPD has an internal policy that regulates if, when, and to whom fees may be waived. Currently, the policy is to waive the fees if the vehicle tow report reflects it was towed as evidence in a crime. This is not indicated on many tow reports. If the KCKPD can reach you to pick up your vehicle at the time they locate it, then it will not be towed at your expense; otherwise, you can expect to pay.

I feel that the current process is unfair to the victims. I have spoken with one of the U.G. attorneys about this issue and she promised to make her best effort to negotiate a better outcome for the victims whose vehicles are stolen and recovered in KCK. The current contract expires in Dec. 2008.

- Wendy Wilson