Kenney wants overhaul to Philadelphia towing

Councilman Kenney says the city should scrap the rotating system for assigning tow trucks to pick up broken-down cars.

A Philadelphia City Councilman has had enough with the city’s rotational towing system. The councilman wants it suspended and sent to the garage for repairs.

One tow truck driver is accused of shooting a competitor on July 19th and City Councilman Jim Kenney says he wants the current system of assigning tow companies to accidents suspended while it is reviewed. Kenney says drivers are fighting for the opportunity to rip off unsuspecting drivers.

“When someone overcharges a working person it can blow their budget for six months if they have to pay four or five hundred dollars to get your car back when it was in an accident you have to worry about paying your deductible for your insurance and you have to go through the trauma of getting your car back from these guys that hold on to it like they’ve kidnapped it.”

Instead of the current rotating system, Councilman Kenney wants the accident work assigned the nine companies that handle stolen vehicle removal and storage. Kenney also wants to make permanent, the temporary policy of dispatching police via computer instead of over radios that can be overheard by tow truck drivers.