Tow Truck Licensing By-law Open House Learn what the proposed by-law will mean to you as a tow truck owner, driver or an owner of a motor vehicle storage yard. We want to hear from you! Come in and tell us what you think.
Background Council directed staff to licence the tow truck industry to regulate practices and fees Annual licensing of tow truck owners, drivers and motor vehicle storage yards will ensure safe, reliable and consistent service for: residents who require tow truck services from accident scenes or breakdowns residents whose vehicle has been towed from private property Town staff will present a report to Planning & Development Council outlining recommended tow truck and motor vehicle storage yard regulations on September 10, 2018 Licensing of tow truck owners and drivers will commence on October 1, 2018
Tow Truck Owner - licensing requirements Insurance certificates Articles of incorporation / business partner information Criminal reference check Applicant s information e.g. name, address Provincial motor vehicle registration & safety standards certificate Valid Ontario driver s licence or identification Valid commercial vehicle owner s registration Run sheet Authorization from motor vehicle storage yard owner for use of that yard Proposed licensing fee per year: $675.00 A tow truck owner who will drive his/her own tow truck requires both: a tow truck owner s licence and a tow truck driver s licence
Tow Truck Driver - licensing requirements Vulnerable Sector screening Applicant s information e.g. name, address Valid Ontario driver s licence minimum G class licence Ontario driver s abstract Proposed licensing fee per year: $444.00
Motor Vehicle Storage Yard licensing requirements Insurance certificate Articles of incorporation / business partner information Vulnerable Sector screening Applicant s information e.g. name, address Zoning clearance from the Building Department Proposed licensing Fee per year: $225.00
Definitions Motor Vehicle Storage Yard means a lot or portion of a lot used for the temporary storage and impounding of motor vehicles taken from a collision scene or otherwise towed and awaiting repair, demolition or retrieval Tow Truck means a vehicle used for hire for towing or otherwise conveying a motor vehicle as defined in the Highway Traffic Act Heavy Tow means the tow, removal or conveyance of a motor vehicle of greater than 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs) by a tow truck
Towing with the consent of the owner Owner/agent to sign a Permission to Tow Motor Vehicle form Vehicle can be towed to any location directed by the owner/agent Tow Rates: Accident towing & towing with consent: $275 Accident heavy tow: $400 Recovery services: $100 Wait time: $17 per15 minutes to a maximum of $68 per hour Mileage rate of $4/km once outside of the boundaries of the Town of Oakville Re-tow rate of $100 when a vehicle is towed to more than one location on the same day as the initial tow
Towing without the consent of the owner Tow truck owner/driver to provide necessary information to the Halton Regional Police Service Parking lot must be signed at entrances indicating that parking is restricted to customers and that unauthorized vehicles may be towed from the property Vehicle may only be towed to a motor vehicle storage yard within the Town of Oakville Tow Rates: Towing without owner consent: $150 Lifting without owner consent: $40 Storage Yard Rates: Maximum $60 storage rate per calendar day for storage of a motor vehicle starting on the day following the tow date A $60 call-in fee to release vehicle after regular business hours
Inspections Random and mandatory inspections of licensed tow trucks Licence of tow trucks found to be mechanically unfit may be temporarily suspended until the condition has been rectified to the satisfaction of the Licensing Commissioner Upon receipt of notice of inspection, the licensed tow truck owner or driver shall bring the tow truck to the requested place with a Safety Standards Certificate issued under the Highway Traffic Act within 36 days of the date of attendance Failure to attend the inspection will result in the tow truck being suspended from operation until an inspection can be completed A re-inspection fee will apply
Comments: Require landlord information (contact/name) Appeal process with landlord when tow car Can we ask for split of cost who gets paid When approving new buildings make sure parking is available Clear rules on parking lots Tickets and time stamps Pry bar? Full reflect clothing more safety $5million insurance? $2 million insurance? Who pays for extra safety bullet number 3 on inspection board Each truck has to have mandatory inspection each year. By-law extra inspection (3 rd bullet on inspection board) is not right who pays List all insured Owner licensing fee of $675, higher than any others Halton Hills license time coordination on renewal dates to reduce duplication $6000 fee based on $400 tow fee. Too low Police take fee for a call under their secure tow contract Accident related only police to have owner sign consent form (people too upset predatory) Miss pick up fee $525 should be added Need more input from the towing industry. They need a voice Safety light- amber needs to be bigger. 48 cover the roof Is flat bed required/included in by-law Should be private property bylaw. Need sit down with industry Reflective clothing more safety than just vest Will create issues with being plated and HRPS rotation list Police rotation? How will this by-law work with the police contract Sec 45-1 Municipal Act
Comments: PP owner what do they do when the tow truck drivers don t want to tow from their property Storage rates for large or heavy truck should be included $150 tractor $200 trailer Tow fees too low, cannot cover operating costs Rotation list fee some prices from beginning of contract $80 fee : property taxes, insurance, equipment, employee wages, expenses. $60 rate in early 90 s Lifting fee should be $150 should be Tow fee of $265 non consent Towing companies and owners want meeting Signs to warn public about towing if parked without authorization Specify retow in details when to apply Angry customers more calls to town of Oakville to explain Storage rate $75 Issue ticket prior to tow enforcement officer completes tow circle check doc. Pounds holding vehicles and demand additional money for release. Can bylaw help with that? Mike Phils Towing why doesn t the city have a meeting with all towing companies to discuss rates Ontario college if trade may have programs for towing drivers Sign to have tow truck info/contact If truck gets written often can the plate be transferred? Fee transferred? Miss. Lic fee is $220 Heavy tow rates too low range from $450/hr average $444 licensing fee for driver is too high should be $250 If company is on HRPS rotation should be exempt from licensing
Comments: If coming into Oakville on customer request, not doing business in Town, shouldn t be licensed Request for a stakeholder meeting before passing Towing rate is too low. $360 1 st hour of service. Now heavy tow is too low, should pay by weight of vehicle towing Should regulate hours the lot is open for people to pick up cars Skill level/requirements should have difference in pricing If don t abide with bylaw could lose HPRS contract for heavy towing HRPS process is best, no pressure Would we take HRPS sign off for driver/owner instead of criminal reference check. HPRS does it as part of contract Clear wording on signage for parking lots. Large signs If driver quits mid year is there a refund of fees Should plazas register signage Driver training do they have to license a driver in training People should have the right to hire any tow truck whether they are licensed in Oakville or not More input from towing industry directed at predatory towing Cost of bylaw will be passed along to public Insurance policy issues year ago, 3000 yr pollution policy Selling tow jobs hold jobs Private property towing is needed Fees will be passed onto the public Customer doesn t have collision insurance still pay fees to HRPS Police check provided by HRPS, even rotations, letter provided MTO fees, plate stickers could enforce this way Asking for fees but not giving industry anything Tow rates too low Heavy tow $585/hour Clear that bylaw doesn t apply to pick up elsewhere only applicable to pickup in Oakville not drop off only