Councilman wants to stop victims of crime from having to pay to get their vehicles back

Local crime victims say they're being ripped off twice, once by the crooks who steal their cars and a second time by the city of Nashville.

Owners of cars stolen and used in crimes in Nashville are forced to pay a fee to get their car back from the Metro Police impound lot. Cars stolen and used in crimes are housed there to either give the victim time to recover their car or it’s held as evidence for some criminal cases.

Owners have about three days to pick it up the car before daily storage fees begin to add up. The starting cost for most vehicles to be claimed is $200.

Victims say it’s not fair to pay for a crime someone committed against them and Councilman Freddie O’Connell agrees. He says the city shouldn’t profit off of someone being a victim.

“It’s the weirdest feeling to pay the city because I didn’t do anything. I’m literally sitting here minding my business and now all of a sudden, I have to pay a couple hundred dollars just to get my vehicle back,” said O’Connell.

He tried last Council session to pass a bill that would wave that fee for crime victims but it got some pushback from those concerned about the City having to pick up the tab. He plans to reintroduce it with some alternative payment options.