Article
and Video Courtesy of Channel 35 My Fox
By Mike
Synan
Published
August 8, 2015
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Watch
VIDEO
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Orange County is not making any immediate changes to
new rules for tow truck drivers and companies that were put into place
last November.
Commissioners were told that total cars towed in a three-month period
from when the new rules were put in place were basically cut in half.
There was a particular emphasis on fewer cars being towed in the I-Drive
area. Commissioner Victoria Siplin says it is welcome relief for
tourists.
"We want to make sure when they come here
that their experience is a pleasant one. They don't know all
the rules. They don't know all the laws, but we want to make
sure we accommodate them."
The tow truck companies are not particularly happy with the
new rules. Several showed up to ask for changes including
Maysa Shouman of Airport Towing.
"It's hurting our business tremendously.
I feel like we are paying for the predatory towers that
really are the ones that need to be looked at." |
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The chief complaint among the companies is that they are now required to
have a property owner or manager on site to sign off on each and every
car they tow. John Santanello is with the Stony Brook Homeowners
Association. He echoed those concerns saying they do not allow cars to
park on the street overnights.
"As much as we love our property
manager, we can't make her work between the hours of 1am and
6am. Having someone there to actually sign is a problem for
us."
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs was happy with the results
and says while they will listen to companies and homeowners
associations, they are not likely to make major changes.
"I think that the predatory towing problems that we've had
in the past are definitely down. That's a good sign. Not
eliminated, but we've seen a decline, and that's an
improvement." |
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Some of the major changes enacted in November include
the property owner signing off on each tow. Drivers are also required to
take pictures of each tow to prove the car was actually parked
illegally.
The companies must now accept credit and debit cards in addition to
cash, and must offer customers change if that customer does not have the
exact amount of cash.
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