Galloway Council Considers Towing Ordinance

This story was reported and written by Patch contributor Robin Buehler.

A township ordinance reducing the amount towing companies must be insured in order to be eligible to tow for the municipality will be up for another vote on Aug. 13.

The newly adopted ordinance amends Section 309-9 in the township codes that address insurance and indemnity. Up to now, towing operators included on the municipal list of towers had to be insured for $2 million. The ordinance cuts that amount by half to $1 million.

The ordinance also changes the weight limit from 8,000 to 8,500 pounds.

This ordinance does not affect all towing companies. It addresses only those who tow for the municipality. Galloway Township, like many of the neighboring municipalities, has a rotating list of towing companies they use to tow municipal vehicles or to respond to accident scenes. The towing operator is called and responds to remove the broken down or damaged vehicle from the scene.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, Council voted on Ordinance 1874-2013 by a 3-1 vote. Deputy Mayor Anthony Coppola Jr. cast the sole no vote to the three yes votes from Council members Jim Gorman, Jim McElwee and Whitney Ullman.

Mayor Don Purdy recused himself due to a potential conflict of interest. He owns and operates JP Towing.

Absent from Tuesday’s meeting were Councilmen Tom Bassford and Brian Tyrell. Because the ordinance did not receive the required four votes signifying a majority, it will be considered again on second reading on Aug. 13.

Coppola reiterated his concern for reducing the amount of insurance the towing companies should have.

“I think (the move) will further open up the township to liability,” Coppola said.

McElwee and Gorman disagreed, arguing that lowering the amount could “open up more opportunities” for smaller or new towing companies to compete.

“This gives the little guy a foot in the door,” McElwee said, and noted that, despite the reduction in the insurance threshold, towing operators ”still have the option to carry the $2 million (threshold) if they want to do that.” 

But Coppola argued that the towing companies did not ask for a reduction in the insurance requirements; instead, the relief they pushed for was an increase in the towing and storage fees charged to the consumers.

McElwee and Gorman agreed in part. Gorman contended that the reduction in the insurance requirements were asked for. McElwee, on the other hand,  said,  “They didn’t ask for the reduction, but they did ask for relief.”