5 towing business’ certifications pulled by MTO after police enforcement

Illegal or non-compliant tow trucking businesses and operators are facing penalties from Ottawa police after months of proactive enforcement.

According to a press release, police in the nation’s capital partnered with other agencies to bring more of the towing industry into compliance with the law. From Jan. 1 to March 31, police conducted inspections under the Tow and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA) and the Highway Traffic Act, resulting in 75 charges laid.

In that, five businesses were refused or had certifications cancelled by the Ministry of Transportation as a result of the investigations.

Further results from the blitz include:

• 7 tow trucks placed out of service for safety violations
• 1 tow truck impounded under a 7-day vehicle impoundment program
• 33 tow yard inspections conducted
• 18 TSSEA charges issued for tow yard non-compliance

Police said in a statement that the initiative focused on enforcement and education, and all the companies were informed of the violations before court proceedings.

“Where appropriate, an option to stay charges was extended to support compliance with legislative requirements,” officials explained. “In cases where operators demonstrated that identified issues had been corrected, charges were stayed by the prosecution, with input from the investigating officer.”

The goal was to approach the tow trucking industry through a cooperative relationship, officers said, allowing people and businesses to learn from mistakes.

Towing compliance a key target in recent years

This comes after police carried out a city-wide safety initiative that led to over 200 charges, including against the towing industry.

Previously, provincial police charged two towing companies operating in Ottawa after being caught overcharging customers or holding vehicles hostage.

Constable Michael Fathi, with the Ottawa detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), said there are standard rates for storing a vehicle that companies need to follow.

“But not only that, in some cases they are refusing to provide owners or insurance with access to vehicles, making claims that vehicles are more damaged then they actually are,” he said in an email.

Police said if a person feels they are being overcharged or a tow company refuses to give back their vehicle (to the owner or insurance company), victims can file a complaint here.

“An individual has the right to select their own tow company. They also have the right to tell the tow company where to take the vehicle,” Fathi said.