FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2025
Media Contact:
Bradley Hierseman, Manager
Private Party Impound, LLC
(816) 777-8800
recoverykc@gmail.com
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Trial Date Set for Landmark Towing Ordinance Lawsuit in Kansas City
Court Clears Path for Private Party Impound’s Challenge; November 18 Trial Scheduled in Jackson County
KANSAS CITY, MO – October 7, 2025 – In a significant victory for Missouri’s towing industry, the Jackson County Circuit Court has officially set a trial date in the case of Private Party Impound, LLC v. City of Kansas City, Missouri and Jackson County, Missouri (Case No. 2516-CV19144). The trial is scheduled for November 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. in Jackson County Circuit Court. This development comes after the Court rejected the City and County’s legal challenges to the lawsuit, decisively clearing the way for the case to proceed to trial. Private Party Impound, LLC – a Kansas City-based towing company – applauded the Court’s decision and heralded the trial setting as a major milestone in its effort to overturn what it views as unlawful towing regulations.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, challenges the constitutionality and enforceability of recent towing ordinances enacted by Kansas City and Jackson County. Private Party Impound alleges that these local ordinances conflict with Missouri state statutes governing vehicle towing, impound release procedures, and operator licensing. Specifically, the company argues that the City and County ordinances undermine clear requirements in state law and force tow operators into an impossible position. According to the suit, the new rules require tow lots to release vehicles to individuals without verifying proof of ownership, which directly contradicts Missouri’s towing laws that allow only owners or lienholders to reclaim a towed vehicle with proper documentation. The company further contends that Kansas City’s ordinance was designed to make tow operators release vehicles to people who lack a title, registration, or legal proof of ownership, and even states that proof of current registration “shall not be required” for release. Such mandates, Private Party Impound argues, go against state law and pose serious risks – including potential liability for tow companies and threats to public safety and property rights if vehicles are released to the wrong individuals.
In its court filings and public statements, Private Party Impound has outlined multiple ways these ordinances violate state law and endanger the industry. The lawsuit contends that the new City and County measures:
Conflict with Missouri statutes on towing and vehicle release by forcing tow operators to hand over vehicles without verified ownership credentials, whereas state law permits release only to a vehicle’s rightful owner or lienholder with proper proof.
Jeopardize public safety and property rights, potentially enabling vehicle theft and exposing tow operators to legal liability, since a car could be claimed by someone other than its lawful owner under the local rules.
Impose onerous licensing fees and penalties on towing businesses – for example, Jackson County’s ordinance requires a costly $500 annual tow license per operator (plus additional fees per truck) and threatens suspension of tow licenses for even minor infractions – regulations that Private Party Impound calls excessive compared to other counties and harmful to local operators.
Background of the Case: Kansas City’s towing ordinance (enacted in early 2025) and Jackson County’s towing ordinance (Ord. 5978, enacted April 2025) were introduced as measures to crack down on “predatory towing” and establish new consumer protections. However, Private Party Impound’s lawsuit asserts that these well-intentioned local rules overstepped legal boundaries. The suit notes that tow companies are now caught between contradictory laws – they must either comply with the City/County ordinances (and risk violating Missouri state law), or follow state law (and face local penalties and loss of their towing licenses). Private Party Impound is seeking a declaratory judgment that the ordinances are “unconstitutional, illegal and unenforceable” under Missouri law, as well as an injunction to stop the City and County from enforcing them. The stakes are high: by compelling releases without solid proof of ownership, the ordinances disproportionately burden small businesses and could enable vehicle theft. Additionally, Jackson County’s new licensing scheme – which mandates hefty fees and can shut down towing operators for minor ordinance violations – is alleged to threaten the viability of law-abiding tow companies.
Industry-Wide Significance: This case is being closely watched by stakeholders across the towing and impound industry in Missouri. Experts say the outcome could set a powerful precedent for how far local governments can go in regulating towing practices. If Private Party Impound prevails, the verdict would affirm that municipalities and counties cannot enforce ordinances that conflict with state towing laws, helping to ensure a uniform, statewide legal framework for tow operators. Such a ruling could protect towing companies statewide from similar local regulations, reinforcing that Missouri’s state statutes – such as RSMo §§ 304.156–304.158 – preempt conflicting local rules on vehicle towing, release procedures, and licensing. Tow operators and industry associations see the upcoming trial as a pivotal moment that may safeguard their rights and clarify enforcement practices across Missouri.
Bradley Hierseman, Manager at Private Party Impound, LLC, expressed optimism about the court’s decision to proceed to trial. “This trial date is a major milestone for our company and for tow operators across Missouri,” said Hierseman. “We have been fighting these ordinances because we believe they undermine the rights of lawful towing operators and compromise safe enforcement practices. Now we are fully prepared and confident as we head to court on November 18. We believe the evidence will vindicate our position and help ensure that towing laws are enforced fairly and lawfully – protecting both our industry and the public we serve.”
Private Party Impound, LLC emphasizes that it welcomes the opportunity to present its case at trial after overcoming the preliminary challenges. The company maintains that its goal is not only to protect its own operations, but to stand up for the entire towing community and property owners who rely on consistent, legal towing enforcement. With the trial date now set and the courtroom showdown imminent, tow operators statewide are hopeful that the case will reinforce their ability to operate under clear, constitutional guidelines without facing conflicting local mandates.
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Private Party Impound, LLC is a locally owned towing and impound service based in Kansas City, Missouri, specializing in private property towing and vehicle recovery. The company provides 24/7 professional towing services and advocates for fair enforcement of towing laws.
