FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2025
Private Party Impound, LLC Files Second Amended Petition to Challenge New Kansas City Towing Ordinances
Amended legal filing targets Kansas City’s September towing rules, citing conflicts with Missouri law and defending small business rights.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oct. 3, 2025 – Private Party Impound, LLC, a local towing service, announced today that it has filed a Second Amended Petition in its ongoing legal case against the City of Kansas City, Missouri and Jackson County, Missouri. The updated filing broadens the company’s lawsuit to include newly enacted City ordinances – passed by the Kansas City Council in September 2025 – that establish an electronic tow reporting system and a “Towed Vehicle Owner’s Bill of Rights.” The company argues that these recent ordinances impose new obligations on private tow operators that contradict Missouri state law (RSMo §§ 304.156 and 304.157), further infringing on fair competition, and violating the due process rights of law-abiding small businesses.
In its lead complaint, Private Party Impound (PPI) alleges that Kansas City’s new towing rules directly conflict with state law and common-sense safeguards. The Second Amended Petition specifically challenges provisions of the City’s September ordinance – including a mandatory online towing log and the so-called Towed Vehicle Owner’s Bill of Rights – as unlawful overreach. For example, the new ordinance requires tow companies to release vehicles to individuals presenting “reasonably reliable” documents (like a bill of sale, lease, or insurance) as proof of ownership, without requiring official title or registration. PPI contends this standard clashes with Missouri law, which allows only verified owners or lienholders with proper proof to reclaim a towed vehicle.
“The City is essentially telling us to hand over cars based on flimsy paperwork, even if the person isn’t the legal owner – that’s dangerous,” said Bradley Hierseman, Manager of Private Party Impound, LLC. “It undermines lawful towing practices and could let vehicles fall into the wrong hands, all while putting honest operators in an impossible position.”
New Ordinances Highlighted in the Amended Petition
PPI’s filing outlines several freshly enacted rules and why they are problematic:
Electronic Tow Reporting System: Kansas City now mandates that tow operators document every tow in a city-run online database within hours. Private Party Impound argues this requirement is burdensome red tape that duplicates or conflicts with existing state reporting procedures and diverts resources from day-to-day public safety duties.
“Towed Vehicle Owner’s Bill of Rights”: The ordinance requires tow companies to release vehicles to people presenting documents other than a title or lienholder verification. PPI warns this could enable vehicle theft or fraud, while forcing operators into conflicts with state law. It also requires operators to provide written rights notices and price lists, and to contact police before towing on private property – all of which exceed state law and create a “catch-22” for businesses.
Private Party Impound contends that these new municipal rules, combined with Jackson County’s existing tow licensing ordinance, threaten fair competition and constitute regulatory overreach. The company points out that local licensing fees and penalties are far harsher than those in neighboring counties, putting Kansas City-area towing businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
“When small, compliant companies like ours are hit with excessive fees and the fear of losing our license over minor issues, while unscrupulous operators might ignore the rules, it tilts the playing field unfairly,” said Hierseman. “We respect the intent to curb bad actors, but Kansas City’s approach has gone too far and actually jeopardizes public safety. Our small business is committed to public safety – we remove illegally parked and abandoned vehicles to keep properties safe. We simply want to do so under clear, state-law guidelines, without being hamstrung by contradictory local mandates. This legal action is about standing up for our rights, our customers’ rights, and the safety of our community.”
About Private Party Impound, LLC
Private Party Impound, LLC is a Kansas City-based towing company specializing in professional, lawful towing services for private property owners. The company partners with businesses and residential communities to safely remove unauthorized vehicles in full compliance with Missouri state law. Private Party Impound, LLC prides itself on fair practices, transparency, and a commitment to public safety. Its mission is to protect property owners’ rights and keep parking areas accessible and secure through responsible towing practices.
Media Contact:
Bradley Hierseman, Manager
Private Party Impound, LLC
Phone: (816) 777-8800
Email: recoverykc@gmail.com
