FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2017
Communications Manager 
(703) 525-2400
Chamber: Governor Approval of Towing Bill Is "Huge Win" for Arlington Business
Arlington, Va. - The Arlington Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statement praising Governor Terry McAuliffe's (D-Va.) approval of H.B. 1960, which repeals the authority of Northern Virginia local governments to impose the burdensome, costly second authorization towing requirement on businesses when a towing contract is in place: 

"The signing of this important legislation into law is a huge win for the Arlington business community," said Chamber President & CEO Kate Bates. "Arlington businesses rely on being able to provide clear, available parking for customers, employees, and visitors in order to stay viable, and H.B. 1960 empowers and protects these businesses so they can continue to do just that. By removing the ability of local lawmakers to force businesses to adhere to a second authorization towing requirement, this legislation returns the decision-making power about the removal of illegally parked vehicles back where it belong: in the hands of private property owners and business owners."

The Chamber championed H.B. 1960, working with the Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA), to form a coalition of partners in support of the bill, including the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA), area Chambers, and other business organizations. Chamber President & CEO Kate Bates, Chamber Immediate Past Chair Todd Yeatts of The Boeing Company, and Chamber Government Affairs & Economic Development Committee Co-chair Brian Gordon of AOBA met with Gov. McAuliffe on Monday to urge him to sign this legislation into law. 

The Chamber actively pushed back against the second authorization towing requirement, working locally with Arlington County Board and staff and relevant stakeholders towards other solutions that would not unnecessarily burden the business community . When the Chamber and the Board could not reach a consensus, the Chamber took the matter to the state level, in a further effort to protect our members' ability to carry on their businesses.

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For access to this release and other statements by the Chamber, click here.
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Founded in 1924, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a member-centric, volunteer-based, non-profit organization of over 1,800 business and professional people committed to the economic and civic well being of the community. For more information or to become a member, visit
www.arlingtonchamber.org