Province considers Richmond Hill bylaw in new tow truck rules

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 29, 2015
By Kim Zarzour

More than a year after the Town of Richmond Hill enacted a controversial new bylaw to regulate the towing industry, Ontario government has announced it, too, will crack down on unscrupulous tow-truck drivers.

The Liberal government is seeking public input about proposed new rules.

“If you are involved in a traffic accident or need a tow, you should be able to depend on reputable, honest and fair tow truck drivers and operators who work safely,” begins the province’s five-minute online survey.

There are about 1,200 tow truck operators working in the province with 3,000 tow truck drivers - some of whom appeared in Richmond Hill council chambers in 2012 and 2013 to express displeasure when the town sought to implement new regulations.

After two years of debate - and flaring tempers from towers who argued new rates would make their business unprofitable - the town’s bylaw took effect March, 2014.

A one-year review presented by staff in July reported a dramatic decrease in excessive fees being charged within Richmond Hill.

“We’ve only had two to three complaints in the last two years,” said John DeVries, director of regulatory services for the town. Those complaints were investigated and drivers were paid back, he added.

The town continues to meet with local towers to hear about their interpretation and feedback.

The provincial government asked to see the town’s bylaw as part of their investigation into a Ontario-wide approach, DeVries said, and those who viewed it said they were impressed.

Sixteen of more than 400 municipalities currently have bylaws that license towing businesses - many of them in the GTA.

The town’s bylaw may need to be adjusted, or may be superseded by the one anticipated by the province, but Devries believes the work to develop a local approach was worthwhile.

“We had heard a lot of concern at the time of residents being gauged,” he said. “If this didn’t have merit, the province wouldn’t look at it.”

One area where the provincial rules may differ from Richmond Hill deals with commercial vehicle registration, he said.

The province may also limit the number of hours drivers are allowed to be at the wheel.

The government is also seeking feedback from drivers on payment options, information that tow and vehicle storage businesses should include on invoices and transparency in the industry.

The information will complement discussions underway between the government and tow and storage sectors.

Consumer Services Minister David Orazietti said unethical practices may be contributing to rising auto insurance rates.

Those who charge extra for towing damaged cars to their storage location and wait weeks to inform owners, charge exorbitant rates and collect kickbacks are expected to be targeted by the province.

If imposed, the new laws would come into effect during the first half of 2016.

If you want to have your say, go to www.ontario.ca/towingsurvey.