Calgary City Council passed amendments to the Calgary Traffic Bylaw and Street Bylaw to regulate and deter the harmful behaviour of predatory tow truck operators at vehicle collision sites.

Under the bylaw amendments, no towing service vehicle can approach a collision or incident within a 200-metre radius zone, unless requested by emergency responders or the owner or operator of a vehicle involved. If convicted, the operators could face a $10,000 fine.

“The amendments are in response to a growing local trend, where some tow truck operators have attended collision scenes without being called, impeding first responders’ ability to help accident victims, intimidating customers and charging exorbitant fees,” says Lorna Kearnes, Business Strategist, Policy and Bylaw Development.

“The behaviour has posed safety risks to both the public and first responders, in addition to causing negative financial impacts to citizens,” says Kearnes.

The high fine was set as a deterrent to the disruptive and aggressive behaviours by chaser or poacher tow truck operators.

The amendments allow the Calgary Police Service and community peace officers to control and deter predatory tow truck operator behaviour at motor vehicle collisions or incident scenes more effectively.

The 200-metre zone wherein no towing service vehicle can enter (unless requested to attend by an officer, the Calgary Fire Department, or the owner or operator of a vehicle involved in the incident) will help manage the safe response to all individuals at the incident scene.

More information will be made available on Calgary.ca.