Timmins Police Services Board voted to increase towing fees for cars towed after collisions, and for being parked when snow removal or street sweeping operations are scheduled to take place.
Before rate increases can take place, they must be approved by Timmins City Council through an amendment to the Towing By-law 2012-2162.
“The changes are being made because of a request by the Timmins Towing Association at the board meeting of a few months back,” said Chief John Gauthier.
Chief Gauthier requested a comparative report on towing fees be produced by Timmins Traffic Unit Timmins fees were compared those of North Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.
The findings of the Traffic Unit report were presented at Wednesday’s meeting.
Tow truck companies argued an increase in fees was needed because of increased costs of doing business.
The motion to increase the rates for towing was moved by TBS Chair Mayor Steve Black.
The proposed new towing fees for snow removal and street sweeping parking infractions will increase to $150 from the current $105 for initial tow and $120 for subsequent tows.
The proposed new fee for collision, suspension or crime related impounds will remain the same for the initial call, but the second tow will increase to $150 from the current $120.
In addition, release fee of the impounded vehicle will rise to $35 from the current fee of $25.
The storage fee charged per day after 24 hours will increase to $65 for all storage and replaces the current release fee of $25 for snow removal/street sweeping related storage and $45 for traffic accident related calls.
A new charge of $3.75 per km in mileage for the towing will be introduced, with the first 10 km of towing being free of charge.
Currently there is no mileage fee in the City's Towing By-law.
The Traffic Units report indicated Timmins’ towing rates were significantly lower than towing rates in North Bay ($250) and Sault Ste. Marie ($300 and $350).
Sudbury charged $65 per hour for towing which also includes the distance travelled hourly.
Storage fees in Sudbury ($25) and Sault Ste. Marie ($25 and $45) were comparable to Timmins’ rates ($25 and $45).
According to the report, Sault Ste. Marie charged a mileage of $2.60 per km.
Previously, Timmins did not have a mileage fee.
Not all members of the Timmins Police Services Board agreed with the increase.
John Curley voiced concern with the proposed increase where it related to towing of cars parked in areas designated for snow removal or at times required for street sweeping zones.
He wasn't concerned about the towing fees for collisions because they are covered by insurance.
"It's a heck of a lot of money for a person who left his car on the street," Curley said.
Curley also noted that the cost is actually greater than the towing fee to the individual parked illegally during snow removal operation.
The car owner will be slapped with a $50 parking ticket, plus a fee for releasing the vehicle from impoundment.
Darlene Lafontaine, Deputy-Chair noted that the proposed increase still was below the towing fees of other cities like Sault Ste. Marie compared to Timmins.
Michael Doody said that increasing the towing fee was justified because a parked car not only poses a problem for the snow removal operator, but also for nearby neighbours.
Curley recommended an increase of $125 on a first call for towing during snow removal or street sweeping; a second call fee of $120; a vehicle release fee of $30 and mileage charge of $3.75, but his motion failed when he could not get a seconder to support him.
The current towing by-law 2012-7262 was lasted amended in August, 2012.
Timmins is the only community of those in the comparison that has a towing by-law.
The Timmins Police Report on Towing Charges also mentioned the recently passed Bill 15 – “The Fighting Fraud and Reducing Automobile Insurance Rates Act” to regulate the operation of Ontario Towing companies as a factor in reducing insurance rates.
The bill paves the way for the creation of the Tow and Storage Consumer Bill of Rights.
The Traffic Unit report indicated the effect of Bill 15 on Timmins' Towing by-law is not known at this time.
Also at the meeting Mayor Steve Black was re-elected as Chair of the TPS for 2016 and Darlene Lafontaine was re-elected as Vice-Chair.
