HOUSTON -- Houston's mayor made plans Friday to expand a motorist assistance program in an effort to save a controversial towing ordinance, Local 2 reported in an exclusive story Friday.

Video

Team Coverage: Mayor Tries To Save Safe Clear

MAP is Harris County's freeway assistance program. A compromise between Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels would expand MAP in conjunction with Safe Clear.

"I think both with Safe Clear's capabilities and with an expanded MAP program, which I'm working on, that there will be a lot of assistance to motorists," White said. "Nobody minds getting some free assistance in the shoulder or emergency lane."

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

The Motorist Assistance Program has been in place since 1986. During peak hours, deputies patrol in donated vans, providing free rides, gas, jump starts and other services for stranded motorists.

MAP would work alongside Safe Clear wreckers, providing a more driver-friendly approach to clearing roadways.

The current budget for MAP is about $2.5 million. The current plan would triple that budget, with the money coming from the county, city, METRO and private industry.

"We are going to work with the city to try to commit to something with our MAP program and with their program and find something that will resolve the issues the legislature has," Eckels said.

The move comes after a state Senate committee approved a bill that would kill Safe Clear, which requires tow truck drivers to remove disabled vehicles from Houston roadways within six minutes, even without the driver's consent.

Democratic State Sen. John Whitmire leads the opposition in a legislature that is primarily Republican. The Republican Party is firmly opposed to the Safe Clear program.

"The party has said all along that it was a bad idea. And it's gone from a bad idea to a worse idea," said Lonnie McBee, with the Harris County Republican Party.

The full Senate is scheduled to vote on the measure next week.