A University of Cincinnati graduate recently parked his car near campus and returned to it missing.
The towing company at first asked for $200, but Brandon Wright eventually had to pay more than twice that amount to get his vehicle back.
"It was really upsetting. I was treated rudely. I was told this was a lesson to not to park in those places," Wright said.
Wright knew it was illegal for Kenwood Towing to charge him $570 to get his car back from their lot, ONN's Lot Tan reported.
He contacted Cincinnati council members and filed a civil lawsuit in small claims court.
"They did apologize when they handed me a check for my refund amount that I was seeking in my civil suit claim," said Wright.
Kenwood Towing would not comment to ONN about the case. Tow truck drivers also took off when they saw the ONN-TV camera.
"Trying to overcharge them, just because they can... I was disgusted by it," Cincinnati city councilman P.G. Sittenfeld said.
Sittenfeld introduced a motion has the support of all nine council members.
He said companies participate in predatory towing could face a fine of up to $1,000 in addition to other penalties if they are caught.
"They are not going to get city contract to tow cars if they are a chronic offender, and in extreme examples, we want folks to face jail time," Sittenfeld said.
Council members hope to pass the ordinance and have the rules go into effect in 30 days.
