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Council approves new bylaw for towing services, addressing issues for customers and operators

September 29, 2022   ·   1 Comments

By Sam Odrowski

A unanimous vote by Orangeville Council approved the passing of a bylaw to regulate and license towing services and vehicle storage yard facilities.

In addition, the approved motion included council’s request for the addition of comments from local towing business owner, Richard Croft, to be reviewed and brought back at a future council meeting.

Council’s 7-0 vote on the matter took place during a regular council meeting on Sept. 12.

The new bylaw will align with the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, while complementing existing provincial regulations in consumer protection and highway and vehicles safety, according to town staff’s report on the item.

The report also notes that the bylaw will provide consumers with consistency in towing servicing by prescribing rates for key towing services and requiring all other towing services rates to be filed with the town.

Lastly, the report adds that the bylaw will include general licensing provision that are consistent with the town’s licensing bylaws.

The reason the bylaw came forward is because Dufferin OPP brought issues forward to municipalities in the region regarding a rise in complaints for chasing and harassment between tow truck operators. Other issues include excessive fees and the inability for customers to access their vehicle.

As a result, Dufferin OPP initiated discussions with municipalities and their respective police service boards to develop a uniform towing services bylaw, addressing the issues.

The approved bylaw to regulate and license towing services and vehicle storage yard facilities was the result.

Orangeville council won’t meet again until November, following the municipal election.

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