By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – New city rules would specify when tow truck operators can bargain with car owners trying to rescue their vehicles.

The new rules don’t say how much a tow operator can charge, according to Lewiston Police Sgt. James Rioux.

“We’re not in the business of regulating a private business,” Rioux said. “We don’t want to say what they can and cannot charge. We just want to make things a little clearer and more reasonable for everyone.”

During their first look at the changes Tuesday, councilors approved them. A final review is scheduled for March 8.

Currently, the city’s ordinance lets tow operators charge a car’s owner as soon as the tow truck has been called.

“Say the wrecker gets a call at 1 a.m.,” Rioux said. “They have to call a driver and get him out of bed. Once the wrecker is halfway there, they’ve invested an hour’s pay and the fuel to get the truck down there.”

Rioux said owners who rescue their car before a tow truck arrives don’t want to pay. That tends to be the biggest complaint police hear.

“We tried to make it a little more reasonable,” he said. Under the new rules, an operator could not charge the owner unless the operator has made a substantial effort.

“In the winter, if they have to shovel out the car, they’ve made a substantial effort,” Rioux said. “If they have the car on the hook, they’ve made substantial effort.”

Under the new rules, the tow truck operators could charge half their normal fee, due immediately. If the owner refused, the operators could tow the car and the owner would have to pay the full wrecker fee, plus any outstanding parking tickets. Typically, local wreckers charge between $75 and $90 to tow a car.

Copy the Story Link