Police crackdown on dodgy practice targeting Aussie drivers: ‘Finally’
Tow-truck drivers will finally face tough new laws aimed at clamping down on unethical practices, after years of the industry operating unregulated.
Dodgy tow-truck owners accused of extorting unsuspecting drivers out of thousands may soon face strict new guidelines under proposed laws aimed at cracking down on unethical practices within the industry.
Tow truck drivers in Western Australia would be forced to adhere to the tough new rules, should they pass within the next few months, after years of the sector operating unregulated.
Under the changes, business owners will be now be made to cap prices at $450 for towing in a 50km range in the Perth and Peel regions, and storage fees will be limited to $30 a day. Spotter’s fees — payments in exchange for reporting crashes towing companies — will be banned.
The proposed laws come after years of campaigns for regulating the industry, which is said to have close links to bikie gangs in the state, and after it emerged that some motorists were being charged thousands in fees — one an astonishing $10,000 for towing and storage. Prices in WA are believed to be two or three times as much as operators charge in other jurisdictions elsewhere in Australia.
State's transport minister details 'full new regulations'
Recent police operations reportedly uncovered more than a dozen tow-truck drivers allegedly on drugs, with some even found to have intimidated drivers, forcing them out of their cars, The West Australian reported. A civilian working in the WA Police operations centre told 9News she traded crash scene tip-offs for corrupt payments totalling more than $16,000.
WA Assistant Transport Minister David Michael said he believes the laws will pass before the end of the year.
"We’ve seen some terrible behaviour in the crash towing industry over the last couple of years including excessive charging for towing and storage of crashed damaged vehicles, predatory industry behaviour, targeting vulnerable consumers, crash scenes, and we’ve been seeing physical altercations between tow truck drivers fighting for work on our freeways and our roads," Michael told media on Thursday.
"This is a full new regulation of the towing industry. The legislation and explanation documents are well over 200 pages. Again, because of those links, potentially with organised crime and some of that behaviour was seen, we really needed to get it right.
"My sincere hope is we will (pass them before the end of the year) and as soon as we’ve got them passed, one of the provisions will come in straight away, which will be the banning of spotters fee.
"Hopefully by the end of the year, we’ll have some regulations in there we’ll set those maximum caps fees for storage charges and for towing to crash vehicles, and then into next year."
Opposition to back changes, due to pass by end of year
Opposition Leader Shane Love, a major campaigner for the changes, said he'd back the proposed laws.
"After years of complaints, after years of knowing that organised crime has its grips into the tow truck industry and that price gouging has been going on for all this time, the government has finally introduced legislation to combat that," he said.
Online, locals applauded the proposed changes.
"Time to bury the bastards, bunch of thugs who exploit people who are vulnerable and distressed, I feel bad for those out there who don't know what their rights are after an accident," a WA resident wrote.
"Even as a male, most of them are intimidating," said a second.
"About f**king time — these vultures need their wings clipped," another passionate local said.
"Christmas came early," wrote a fourth.
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