A towing company that was charging owners of crashed or broken down cars in Portland an average of about $1,900 per tow — which was more than four times what its competitors were charging — appears to have voluntarily slashed its rates.

Without explanation, Elite Towing began charging as little as $469 per tow that was initiated by the Portland Police Bureau in the first half of July. Deputy City Ombudsman Tony Green, who has been leading a months-long push to force Elite Towing to lower its rates, said the company gave the city no heads-up that it was about to institute a dramatic price decrease.

On average, other tow companies that have hauled away cars upon the request of police had been charging a median of $419 per tow, according to an ombudsman report released in July.

The Ore

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