NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — You'll be paying a bigger price to get your car back if it's towed in Norfolk. Norfolk’s city manager said that, according to the advisory board for towing and storage of vehicles, the city has fallen behind when compared to what other jurisdictions are charging.  In a 7-1 vote, with Councilor John E. “JP” Paige voting no, Norfolk City Council members voted to increase the flat towing rate based on the weight of vehicles.  One person said this increase would be too much.  “Many taxpayer citizens would not be able to afford to get their car out of the pound," the person said. And Paige agrees. He said the area he represents, Ward 4, is the section of the city where the people would not be better off with the increase.  For light vehicles, the towing fee will increase $45, from $155 to $200. The towing fee for a medium vehicle will double, going from $175 to $350, and the towing fee for heavy vehicles will increase from $350 to $575 (See below for Norfolk towing fee ordinance). R-19-Amending-Section-25-302-and-25-601-of-the-Norfolk-City-CodeDownload “We find ourselves in a position where, in a car accident or abandoned vehicles in the street or any number of other scenarios, we are relying on private vendors who incredibly, don't want to work in the city because they can make more money in the surrounding city,” said Norfolk city manager Patrick Roberts.  You will have to be careful where you park, as this will apply to private and public property, including city streets.  The Towing Advisory Board recommended that the two rates be changed only for light vehicles, but the rate would change based on the time and weekday. Staff recommended a flat rate for all three types of vehicles.  “We have observed in the last, probably two or three years, that all of the surrounding jurisdictions have incrementally raised the allowance for those fees, and we have not,” Roberts said.  Now, the towing fee will not affect the city’s budget. Roberts said these new charges that have been approved are more of a cap on what private contractors will be allowed to charge drivers.