County councillors were unanimous in passing a towing bylaw designed to protect citizens from high prices and unscrupulous practices at an accident scene or when they have a break-down.
But first they heard from Roy Loveless, who has appeared at many municipalities to oppose the bylaw. He calls himself a “first responder” and operates by being on the road instead of waiting for calls for a tow truck.
Loveless said an amendment to the bylaw that allows tow trucks to stop and render assistance makes the bylaw more palatable to him – but then he began questioning the purpose behind the bylaw in the first place.
“I have proof it’s not to protect the people but to protect the tow truck operators,” he said of the Wellington County Tow Group, which supported the bylaw.
He said he “tested with witnesses in Fergus” and determined the bylaw was planned to benefit the towing group.
He said the OPP rotates its calls to members of the group, and an officer said, “We use the Wellington County Tow Group.”
Loveless said that policy is “costly to me” and “There should not be a monopoly for any service.. I’ve got people investigating why this bylaw is there in the first place. All evidence to me is that it was put in place to empower the Tow Group.”
He said the amendment to the bylaw showed that some are on the side of the community. Loveless added. “You can’t stop other tow truck drivers from coming here.”
He recently moved to Fergus from the Greater Toronto Area.
“This bylaw is still going to put the Wellington Tow Group in power to do all the towing,” he told council. “I’m bitter about the whole thing. I’m operating as a first responder.”
He criticized OPP Inspector Scott Smith and said the bylaw that originated from the Police Services Board was unnecessary. Smith had told councils in Wellington County of incidents where people had their vehicles towed for much higher fees than promised, sometimes far away from their home garages.
Loveless cited a letter circulated by Puslinch Township councillor Susan Fielding that stated she was an accident victim and it took her family days to find out where her car had been towed.
She supported the bylaw. Loveless said that accident was outside of Wellington County. He said he has sent his complaints to the Ontario Independent Police Review Director, and noted that some of the towing operators in the local group are leaving it.
He complained several times about “Smith” and his actions. Loveless completed his delegation to council and received no questions.
But councillor John Green did have a comment. He said the council is used to “dignity and decorum,” and told Loveless the title is “OPP Inspector Smith, not ‘Smith’.”
Green added, “I don’t need some tow pig to come in and tell me how to address this.”
When council considered the bylaw, which was approved by all the municipalities, it carried unanimously.
