Woodburn Independent Online

WCC hears towing concerns

Complaints arise after citizen felt one tow company was charging too much

• By: Rachel Cavanaugh  
• Published: 3/1/2010 8:29:00 AM

WOODBURN — The city of Woodburn is investigating options for regulating local towing companies.
 
The move was prompted by a complaint at a recent city council meeting that a company charged an exorbitant amount for a citizen to retrieve his cars.
 
According to Kevin Wheatcroft, his bill from All Around Towing was more than three times what other shops said they’d charge.
 
“It’s just very frustrating and more than anything we wanted to make sure that the council and the mayor were aware of what was going on,” Wheatcroft said.
 
“When you’re in that kind of a situation as a consumer, you’re at the mercy of the guy operating the tow truck company. You’re totally at the mercy of what they want to charge you. To me, I would think there would be some sort of regulation,” Wheatcroft added.
 
Yet City Administrator Scott Derickson said his staff is limited in the “scope of control the city can apply to the towing industry.”
 
Woodburn doesn’t currently regulate the towing business, Derickson said. When a tow is needed, typically by the police department, the city rotates through the five companies that do business in town.
 
He said it is unclear if there is a way to set prices on private companies.
 
“We’re looking into it, but at this point we haven’t identified a legal mechanism that allows the city to dictate price controls on private industry,” said Derickson.
 
One option would be to create a contract for police towing. Under that model, the city would create a list of companies authorized for police tows in Woodburn.
 
However, it is a lengthy process and Derickson said it has drawbacks, noting the necessary Request For Proposal (RFP) involved.
 
“The RFP process and the bid process can be very contentious and I think it can be costly too.
 
“So, there are pros and cons to the options that are available. It will be up to the city council to weigh those pros and cons and determine an appropriate course of action.”
 
Furthermore, it would only regulate tows called in by the police or city officials. Private tows would remain unregulated.
 
Derickson said the city is currently looking into the concerns expressed by Wheatcroft.
Once completed, it will go back to city council with a staff report and recommendations about what council’s options are.
 
Derickson noted that the city has visited the issue before and other councils have made decisions on the matter.
 
However, he stressed the city would also need to hear from the tow truck operator.
 
“We haven’t heard the other side of the story yet,” said Derickson. “I think it’s incumbent on the city to at least hear both sides, especially when allegations are made against the company.”
 
According to Richard Myer, owner of the company Wheatcroft dealt with, his rates were fair and reasonable. He said he has a price sheet that covers everything including hook-up, storage, mileage and recovery, and it is out in the open.
 
He said the accusations about unfair prices frustrate him.
 
“There was nothing unethical whatsoever that I did on that tow,” Myer said.
 
“We did not overcharge him. As a matter of fact, we did not charge the mileage to Mt. Angel to give them extra safekeeping on the vehicle.”
 
Myer said he has been operating a fair business in town for a long time.
 
He added that other tow companies couldn’t possibly provide an accurate quote when they weren’t present on the scene and didn’t know details of the recovery.
 
Still, Wheatcroft said he thinks there needs to be some sort of cap.
 
“For as simple of a tow as that was, I think it’s unreasonable,” Wheatcroft said. “I don’t know what the answer is but I know that what happened to me was totally unfair.”

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