HOUSTON -- The Houston City Council delayed another vote on a controversial new towing ordinance and called for tighter criminal background checks on all tow truck drivers involved in the program, Local 2 reported Tuesday.
Some council members said they still have a lot of unanswered questions about the Safe Clear ordinance. The city leaders also said they want to make sure the public is safe when dealing with the tow truck operators.
"Safe Clear is going to set the standard for what we insist on in tow truck operators," Houston Mayor Bill White said.
White said he will ask City Council next week to pass an ordinance tightening up a possible loophole in the background checks of wrecker drivers.
Sources told Local 2 that a preliminary check uncovered drivers with criminal convictions, including a serial rapist and those with a history of other violent crimes. It also found a large number of drivers with convictions for DWI, drugs, fraud and theft, officials said.
"I just want to make sure that people that are driving don't have criminal backgrounds. People will call my office and say someone has a criminal background. Now we're going to know. We're going to know for sure," City Councilman Michael Berry said.
More Residents Voice Opposition To Safe Clear Program
Andria Hunt, whose car became disabled on the side of a Houston freeway, complained about the Safe Clear towing program at City Hall Tuesday. She told the mayor and City Council members how her car was towed away after she broke down the Southwest Freeway and walked somewhere to find a phone.
"I was supposed to be charged $75. Instead, the towing company wanted $133.70," Hunt said.
White responded, saying stories like Hunt's will help city leaders figure out what they need to do to improve the towing ordinance. The mayor continues to defend his plan and said that he's already seeing results from the towing program.
The League of United Latin American Citizens demanded a moratorium on the program Tuesday.
"LULAC believes it's a neo-conceived plan that can be labeled 'Houston's Robin Hood Mobility Safety Plan,'" LULAC spokesman Johnny Mata said.
White brushed off speculation that a legislative review could repeal the Safe Clear program.
"I want results," he said. "There was too much rubbernecking and secondary accidents as a result of disabled vehicles. This is good for Houston and it will continue."
The program, which started on New Year's Day, involves 11 towing companies with city contracts to respond to all disabled vehicles within six minutes and get them off highways once authorized by a police officer at Houston TranStar, the region's traffic-control center.
Motorists can no longer change flat tires on the freeway shoulder, leave vehicles to get fuel or call their own help.
But White offered to amend the quick and mandatory $75 tows required for all stranded vehicles after criticism that many citizens couldn't afford the cost. The mayor said drivers stranded on freeway shoulders should be able to choose between tows to their destination of choice for $75 for the first five miles, then $1.50 a mile, or free tows up to a mile.
The proposed changes to the Safe Clear program also include:
Wrecker drivers will change flats for free if you have a spare. Tows for broken down and abandoned vehicles will cost $75. Vehicles involved in accidents or abandoned after an accident will be towed at $124.
The City Council tabled the changes on Jan. 18. Three City Council members told Local 2 the changes were not enough and that they wanted the program scrapped.
"I agree that we have to rescind it, that we have to put a moratorium on it in order to accomplish everything in the process," City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said.
The proposed changes to the Safe Clear program will cost taxpayers $300,000 a year.
Council is scheduled to vote on the revisions to Safe Clear next week.
Previous Stories: - January 24, 2005: Mayor Defends Towing Program In State Of City Address
- January 19, 2005: Council Delays Vote On Changes To Towing Ordinance
- January 18, 2005: City Council Hears Drivers' Towing Concerns
- 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
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Council Delays Vote On Towing Ordinance
