Private Party Impound, LLC remains fully committed to operating lawfully, transparently, and in a manner that prioritizes public safety, property rights, and the well-being of our tow operators and the community we serve.
Under Missouri law and long-standing practice, a vehicle must be verified as not stolen prior to being lawfully towed. Historically, this verification has been performed directly and promptly by the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. However, that process has been fundamentally altered in a way that creates serious safety concerns and unfair market consequences.
At present, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department refuses to provide timely stolen-vehicle verification directly. Instead, private tow operators are required to enter vehicle information into a third-party online database that is not owned, operated, or controlled by the City of Kansas City. Only after the vehicle has been entered does the Police Department initiate a delayed callback process to confirm whether the vehicle is stolen.
In practice, these callbacks are occurring 30 minutes to more than two hours after the initial request.
This delay places tow truck operators in an unacceptable and dangerous position. Requiring operators to remain on scene for extended periods dramatically increases the risk of confrontation, escalation, and physical injury—particularly when a vehicle owner or occupant is upset about the tow. The Police Department’s procedure, as currently enforced, directly contributes to breaches of the peace and creates foreseeable safety risks that could be avoided through timely verification.
Critically, this same delay-inducing process is not applied when the Police Department impounds vehicles itself. City-initiated impounds proceed without the prolonged waiting periods imposed on private operators. This discrepancy creates an unfair competitive advantage for the City and undermines lawful private property impound operations.
Private Party Impound is deeply concerned that this selective and inconsistent procedure appears designed to discourage or obstruct private impounding, rather than to promote safety or compliance. The result is a system that disadvantages private companies, exposes workers to harm, and fails to treat similarly situated parties equally.
We respectfully call on the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and City leadership to immediately restore a timely, direct, and uniform stolen-vehicle verification process—one that protects public safety, treats all operators fairly, and complies with the law.
Private Party Impound will continue to advocate for lawful, safe, and equitable towing practices on behalf of property owners, tow professionals, and the broader Kansas City community.
