'They're a menace': London Towing Association supports by-law enforcement
The London Towing Association said it is pleased with the results of a recent city by-law blitz in the industry, but would have liked to see more action sooner.
"They're a menace," said Dwayne Cameron, the association's president, referring to the 12 companies hit with penalties under the city's towing regulations.
In total, 92 violations and 10 warnings were issued, and there are still pending business license suspensions, according to the city.
"One of the main complaints from first responders is the chaos at the accident scene because of the number of tow trucks that have arrived," said Orest Katolyk, the city's municipal compliance director.
"There's five, six, seven tow trucks there," explained Cameron. "They're blocking up the streets, blocking the road. They're just causing a nuisance."
Last year, the city introduced limits on towing fees, capping them at $275, but the investigation found multiple companies were charging well beyond that, or weren't able to provide adequate documentation to prove they were charging legal rates.
"We did a search of the invoices at accident scenes and identified numerous violations for tow charges from accident scenes, as well as impound charges," said Katolyk.
The city capped storage fees at $50 a day.
There has also been a series of violent incidents in the towing sector recently, which includes an arson investigation into burned vehicles, and gunshots fired at a tow truck by a rival company.
Tow trucks that were damaged in suspected arson are seen in London, Ont. on Nov. 14, 2022. (Jim Knight/CTV News London)
This enforcement blitz was planned "well before" those incidents, according to Katolyk.
Going forward, public and first responder feedback will dictate future bylaw action.
"It's largely complaint driven," said Kotalyk. "It's also very much data driven. So if we have a category that nobody is complaining about and everything is running smoothly, there's no cost benefit to doing a blitz."
There's no shortage of complaints in towing though, added Cameron, as customers are often targeted with price gouging tactics by companies that will lie about their options.
"We had an incident Saturday where they actually said that they were affiliated with us, and they weren't," said Cameron.
Cameron offered one final piece of advice to drivers.
"You have the right to choose whoever you want,” he said. “You don't have to use the first on scene. Call whoever you want."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Golf season a summer tourism driver in Canada
Golf is a sign of spring and summer and a major driver for seasonal tourism, experts say.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire' are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
Police clear encampments as U.S. campus arrests exceed 2,300 amid pro-Palestinian protests
Police ordered pro-Palestinian protesters to clear out of a tent encampment at New York University early Friday, a move that follows weeks of demonstrations and police confrontations at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in more than 2,300 arrests.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.