HOUSTON -- Mayor Bill White announced Friday more details about changes made to Houston's controversial towing program, Safe Clear, Local 2 reported.

Video

White Takes Step Forward To Improve Freeway Driving Conditions

The Safe Clear towing program has been officially linked to Harris County's Motorist Assistance Program, known as MAP. The changes are effective immediately.

SAFEClear Towing Program Information Motorists' Bill Of Rights One-Year Report Harris County Motorist Assistance Program AAA Answers Member Questions SAFEClear Article Archive SAFEClear Questions/Complaints: File SAFEClear Complaint Online Phone: (713) 308-2568 E-Mail: autodealers@cityofhouston.net IN YOUR OPINION Safe Clear Relieved Congestion? Your Thoughts On Wrecker Policy

White said the goal of the towing program is to reduce congestion on the city's freeways by quickly removing broken down vehicles and helping stranded motorists get moving again.

"Today is an important step forward in making it easier to get around Houston" White said. "This expansion of the program will help us move traffic along and reduce accidents."

Components of the Safe Clear-MAP agreement include:

Utilizing a single dispatching system at Transtar.
Increasing number of MAP patrols from 9 to 19 vehicles.
Accepting 10 vehicles donations from the Houston Automobile Association.
Providing additional funding and manpower for tows by METRO.

METRO police officers will begin working alongside Harris County sheriff's deputies, who are currently the MAP drivers.

"The additional money that METRO will put in will amount to about $1 million per year. $400,000 of that will be salaries for the METRO officers," METRO spokesman David Wolfe said.

The mayor said if a Safe Clear wrecker driver and a MAP worker both arrive at the scene to tow a vehicle, communication would be key on figuring out how to handle the situation.

"People will communicate with each other and see what the easiest, quickest, fastest way to respond to the particular incident is," White said.

The Safe Clear city ordinance, which went into effect on Jan. 1, required licensed tow-truck operators to remove disabled vehicles from Houston's freeway within six minutes.

Motorists are not allowed to change flat tires on freeway shoulders, leave vehicles to get fuel or call their own help. Towing companies who have contracts with the city charge $75 for the first five miles for disabled vehicles and $1.50 for each additional mile. The tow cannot exceed $124.

Drivers with flat tires, empty gas tanks and easy-to-fix problems not in main lanes of traffic are eligible for a free tow up to one mile with Safe Clear.