Tow Truck Reform Plan Passes City Council
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It was a narrow vote Thursday as Philadelphia City Council okayed a new plan to reign in wreck-chasing tow truck operators -- a plan that gives the Parking Authority oversight. But the next step may be a courtroom.
By a 10-to-7 vote, Council approved a plan authored by Councilman Jim Kenney that would have the Parking Authority get involved in the rotation system to dispatch tow trucks to scenes of accidents.
Kenney says this will end gouging. "Where (towers) race to accident scenes, hook people's cars, take them to body shops and auction them off, or hold their cars hostage for exorbitant fees: these are the horror stories we get from people. I've seen invoices where they charge 7-or-8-hundred dollars for the storage of an automobile."
Under this plan, the cars would have to be taken to Parking Authority lots -- not those of the towers. But the operators say the income lost will drive them out of business.
Joseph Parente of the Philadelphia Independent Towers and Salvers Association, says they'll challenge this in court.
"Immediately, as soon as we can get the attorney on the phone. We're going to lose revenues. They're going to try to control everything that we do. Our jobs are being taken away from us. -- our work."
The measure now goes to the mayor. Aides say it is under review.
Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060
