HOUSTON -- Houstonians got the opportunity to voice their opinions about the city's new controversial Safe Clear program at City Hall Tuesday.

TOWING RULES HPD Answers Questions About Towing Policy Safe Clear Program Motorists' Bill Of Rights AAA Answers Member Questions Agree With Towing Program? Has Safe Clear Helped Relieve Congestion? Are Changes Enough? How Do You Feel About New Wrecker Policy? Safe Clear Article Archive ROAD CONDITIONS Houston TranStar Real-Time Traffic Map Traffic Pulse Real-Time Traffic Map Traffic Section Texas Dept. of Transportation or call (800) 452-9292. Houston Transtar Gas Price Calculator

Council members heard from angry motorists about why they do not like the city's new wrecker policy.

The council is expected to vote on proposed changes to the program Wednesday.

The proposed changes are as follows.

Any motorist who stalls, breaks down or has a flat tire and is not in a moving lane of traffic will receive a free tow for up to one mile of the freeway.
If a motorist runs out of gas, he or she will receive a free tow to the nearest gas station.
A motorist who has a flat and a spare tire in good condition will receive a free tire change from the wrecker driver.

But the basic rule of the service remained the same -- if a vehicle breaks down in a moving lane of traffic or a driver abandons a disabled vehicle, it will be towed for a minimum charge of $75.

If the proposed changes are approved, some drivers with disabled cars will not have to pay the $75 towing fee. In the proposed plan, the city says it would pay the difference of what is owed for the tow.

Until a vote is taken, all drivers with disabled vehicles will be responsible for the $75 fee.

In the meantime, the mayor asked wrecker companies to work with drivers who break down on the freeway.

A Houston City Council member asked for a moratorium Thursday on the Safe Clear towing ordinance in order to give city officials time to pass and implement proposed changes, Local 2 reported.

Houston Mayor Bill White announced major changes to the program Wednesday in an effort to make the mandatory system more affordable.

City leaders said the goal is to make Houston highways safer by clearing stalled cars that pose a hazard.

Eleven companies that have city towing contracts are required to respond to disabled vehicles within six minutes and promptly get them off the highway once authorized by a police officer at Houston TranStar, the region's traffic-control center.

Drivers are able to say where their cars should be taken, within 30 miles. They'll be charged $75 for the first five miles and $1.50 per mile thereafter.

Members of auto clubs offering roadside assistance are no longer allowed to wait for that service to show up. They will be towed by the city contractor and will be reimbursed later.

The Safe Clear program took effect Jan. 1.

More Information:

HPD Answers Questions About Towing Policy

Previous Stories:

• January 13, 2005: Council Member Asks For Moratorium On Towing Ordinance
• January 12, 2005: Mayor Overhauls Towing Ordinance
• January 10, 2005: HPD, Towing Companies Meet Over New Law
• January 7, 2005: Mayor Makes Changes To City's Towing Law
• January 6, 2005: Mayor, HPD Chief Evaluate Safe Clear Program From Air
• January 5, 2005: State Senator Calls For Moratorium On New Wrecker Law
• January 5, 2005: White To Ride With Wrecker
• January 4, 2005: Hundreds Of Vehicles Towed In New Program
• November 24, 2004: Drivers To Follow New Rules For Towing