Alberta is implementing new regulations to crack down on predatory towing behavior, including towing vehicles without consent, withholding critical information from vehicle owners, and targeting emotionally vulnerable individuals at collision scenes.
Effective Aug. 8, the rules will prohibit tow truck drivers — or anyone else pitching towing services — and dispatchers from approaching a collision scene within a 200-meter exclusion radius unless invited by police, emergency services personnel, or the driver involved, the government said in an announcement Thursday. Unauthorized approach to a collision zone will result in a $1,000 fine.
Until now, Alberta has not had specific penalties to address such behavior at the provincial level. The new rules establish consistent standards for tow truck operators and empower drivers to request and review information before agreeing to towing services.
“The last thing someone needs after a collision is to be taken advantage of by aggressive tow truck operators charging excessive fees,” said Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s minister of transportation and economic corridors, in a release. “These new rules will protect Albertans from unethical behavior, give drivers more control in a stressful moment, and help reduce insurance costs caused by inflated towing bills.”
The province says drivers have previously reported being charged as much as $2,500 for unrequested towing services. While Calgary and Edmonton have previously introduced local measures to curb such practices, these new rules apply province-wide.
And the move has been welcomed by industry and law enforcement. Michelle Chimko, president and CEO of the Alberta Motor Association, said, “Alberta’s towing industry has a long-standing reputation for trustworthiness and professionalism, and these clear regulations send a strong message that predatory practices have no place here.”
“Albertans have the right to select the towing company of their choice following a collision and should not feel pressured to immediately accept services offered at the scene,” added Nicole Chapdelaine, deputy chief of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), in the release. “The EPS has made several arrests related to this predatory practice and are supportive of rules that offer those involved in collisions the space required to navigate an already taxing situation.”
