Tow company and two drivers facing provincial charges

An Ottawa towing company and two drivers face a up total $3,000 for breaches of the provincial Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act. OPP PROVIDEDArticle content

An Ottawa-area towing company and two of its drivers face charges under Ontario’s Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act after a driver complained that the company had towed his vehicle to a police collision reporting centre against his wishes.

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The driver also claimed the company, IK Royal Towing, and its drivers caused damage to his car and claimed they were under contract with the Ontario Provincial Police, which was false.

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Fines on the accusations could total $1,700 for the company and $1,300 each for the two truck drivers.

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OPP spokesperson Const. Michael Fathi said in an email that the tow company had notified OPP of a collision on Highway 417, with a tow truck driver calling the OPP Communications Centre in Kanata.

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Damage was deemed to be minimal and “he was instructed to tell the drivers to exchange their information and attend the CRC” in Kanata when they had time. “Instead, the tow truck driver told the vehicle owner that the OPP instructed him to tow the vehicle to the CRC,” Fathi said.

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The tow truck operator also didn’t use the proper method to tow the vehicle, causing damage to the transmission by dragging the rear wheels, police said.

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Fathi said during a meeting between the Ottawa OPP commander and towing companies earlier this year the companies were told there would be tougher measures taken against firms and drivers that didn’t follow the laws.

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“As a result, we have seen an increase in the number of tow truck drivers being charged, usually for ‘chasing’ collisions,” Fathi said.

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