A new citizen's group plans to take action to prevent towing in State College.

Bill Ames, a resident of State College and Penn State alumnus, is working to form a citizens' group to change and better the towing ordinances in State College. So far, the group is made up of "an informal group of my friends," Ames said.

The group is in an early stage and is looking for legal advice, Ames said. The group would like a legal professional to go over the towing ordinances so that it is able to address State College Borough Council with the issues it finds problematic with the ordinances, he added.

"We'd like to talk to the council and let them know that the taxpayers, the citizens aren't happy," Ames said.

The idea for forming the group came when Ames was discussing having his car towed during last week's snowstorm with his friend, he said. Ames has lived in State College for 12 years and has decided that something needs to be done about towing in the borough.

"Enough is enough; it's time to get something done about this," Ames added.

The group has a Web site (www.stopthetowing.com) under construction, which people can go to find out more about the group and to find out who they can contact to become involved, Ames said. Eventually, the Web site will become further developed to include a message board and other features, he added.

Council member Jean McManis was surprised at the formation of such a citizens group. It is important that such a group is very well informed and very specific when approaching the council, McManis said.

Cars are mostly towed between 2 and 6 a.m., when parking is prohibited in State College, McManis said. This was heavily enforced during last week's snowstorm, though the borough tried to publicize the importance of moving cars, she added.

Many angry people who are victims of car towing often wrongly blame the borough, McManis said. Much of the towing in State College is the result of private meters, and the owners of these meters are quick to penalize violators, she said.

McManis also advised the forming group that it should review all parking ordinances for State College, McManis said. The group should specifically state what is unfair in the ordinances, she added.

Though 122 cars were towed during last week's snowstorm, the borough generally does not tow cars unless they create a hazard, said State College Police Department officer Mark Argiro. The police department usually only tows cars during events, such the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts or during snowstorms, Argiro said.

"As long as we can get a fire truck through, we don't bother anyone," he added.

If cars are towed, they can be picked up 24 hours a day, with a fee between $75 and $80, Argiro said. If a person returns before the towing service has hooked the car, the person may move the car without charge, he said. However, if the car has already been attached to the tow truck, there is a fine of $30 to have it unhooked, Argiro added.