It’s alleged that the businesses had been refusing to launch towed autos and had been over-charging charges.
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Printed Dec 05, 2024 • Final up to date 58 minutes in the past • 2 minute learn
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A September file picture of a tow truck behind two passenger autos on St. Laurent Boulevard in Ottawa. Photograph by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA
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Ontario Provincial Police say two Ottawa-based tow truck firms, and one driver, are dealing with doubtlessly 1000’s of {dollars} in fines after being charged underneath the province’s Towing and Stowage Security and Enforcement Act.
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A information launch from the provincial police drive on Thursday mentioned it acquired a grievance in late November after one of many two tow truck firms refused to launch a car from its impound yard. The car had been towed there towards the proprietor’s needs following a collision, and the proprietor was instructed they needed to pay greater than $5,000 for one week of storage.
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Unique articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, meals critiques and occasion listings within the weekly e-newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Workplace.Limitless on-line entry to Ontario Chronicle and 15 information websites with one account. Ontario Chronicle ePaper, an digital reproduction of the print version to view on any machine, share and touch upon.Every day puzzles, together with the New York Occasions Crossword.Assist native journalism.
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Equally, in early December, OPP acquired one other grievance {that a} completely different tow firm was refusing to launch an individual’s car and was additionally over-charging.
The costs towards the 2 firms and driver underneath the Towing and Stowage Security and Enforcement Act aren’t prison charges, however can lead to steep fines and jail time in some instances. Companies convicted of offences underneath the act can face fines of as much as $100,000.
Southway Towing of Ottawa faces charges together with tow operators demanding fee with out consent, demanding fee for providers with out first offering invoices, car storage operators failing to make cheap efforts to launch autos upon request, failing to acquire consent, failing to supply copy of consent and failing to adjust to entry necessities, amongst others.
A tow truck driver, whose identify was not supplied by police, faces charges of offering or making an attempt to supply providers with out consent and failing to supply copy of consent.
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Professional Answer Towing of Ottawa faces charges in relation to demanding fee with out consent, demanding fee with out offering an invoice, offering deceptive, inaccurate or false illustration and pressuring an individual to make use of a fee methodology.
OPP mentioned a member of the general public may file an nameless grievance on-line about any tow driver, tow operator or storage facility at https://www.ontario.ca/web page/know-your-rights-when-getting-tow
In 2022, two Ottawa law enforcement officials had been charged in a tow truck kickback scheme and resigned from the drive in alternate for stays of the authorized proceedings. Kevin Putinski and Andrew Chronopoulos admitted wrongdoing for his or her actions whereas working as officers, admitting that they had “on many occasions” supplied recommendations on areas the place autos required tow providers.
“This gave certain tow operators a competitive advantage by increasing the chances they’d arrive at accident scenes first,” the previous officers instructed the court docket. “On those occasions, when the vehicle was towed as a result of the information I provided, I was paid money by the tow operator. I accept and acknowledge that my actions were improper and constituted a breach of trust with respect to my duties as a police officer.”
The 2 former officers had been charged in April 2020 as a part of a 10-month anti-corruption investigation by the RCMP.
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