‘Predatory’ tow trucks could face $10,000 fine under proposed bylaw​on February 6, 2025 at 11:11 pm

Tow truck operators showing up at vehicle collisions uninvited could face hefty fines after councillors voted to pursue changes to Calgary’s traffic and street bylaws.

Administration’s recommendations include forbidding operators from being within 200 metres of the scene of a motor vehicle collision or incident unless invited or requested.

Operators would also need to demonstrate that they were invited or requested to attend. Those not in compliance could be subject to a $10,000 fine — the maximum a municipality can impose without declaring an offense egregious through the City of Calgary Charter.

Ward 14 Coun. Peter Demong told Postmedia on Wednesday the proposed amendments are “exactly what we need to move the needle” on predatory tow truck behaviour, empowering first responders and putting a prohibitive penalty on those interrupting vehicle collision scenes.

Demong had initially raised the issue in a November notice of motion, after  word of the unscrupulous behaviours came from the Calgary Fire Department, Police Service and Calgarians.

Garry Leach, president of the Towing and Recovery Association of Alberta, told councillors on Thursday the organization fully and unconditionally supports the efforts of the City of Calgary to combat the “unprofessional and possibly illegal activities” of the predatory operators through the bylaw amendments.

Jackie Richards, the association’s Calgary director and a third generation towing company owner, echoed Leach’s support for the proposal.

“However, we believe that it may be crucial that the penalties go even further,” Richards told councillors over the phone.

She noted they have seen cases in Ontario “where such fines are challenged in court and defeated or savvy tow operators just change business names, put different plates on their tow trucks and get rolling again without suffering the payment of such fines.”

Highlighting that the issue is new for the industry Richards said, “I’m thrilled that it’s being dealt with in such a serious and forthright manner.”

Demong said previously that he thinks tow trucks are a provincial responsibility, and says he wants to work with provincial lawmakers to make changes at the provincial level.

Part of administration’s recommendations includes direction to explore advocacy with the provincial government to further address the “predatory tow truck behaviour”.

On Wednesday, Don Getschel, Edmonton director of the Towing and Recovery Association of Alberta, expressed concerns about the problem potentially migrating to other municipalities in the province.

Rather than approach the provincial government, he said Calgary could encourage other municipalities such as Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Red Deer to adopt similar bylaws.

The proposed changes were approved unanimously by councillors at Thursday’s community development committee meeting, but will go to a regular council meeting for a final vote and possible amendments.

— With files from Scott Strasser

swilhelm@postmedia.com