| Vaughan's towers protest new rate caps |
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| Thursday, 28 June 2012 14:23 |
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By Lucy Mazzucco Vaughan, Ontario -- June 28, 2012 -- Members of Vaughan, Ontario’s towing community were out in force today, protesting what they see as restrictive bylaws and unfair caps on towing rates. “They capped our rates and went behind our backs,” says Rob Mileto, owner of Streetpro Roadside Assistance and one of the protesters. “We’re not even allowed to be within 30 metres of an accident. A lot of people here have actually saved people from accidents, but now there are bylaws against saving kids.”
Tow truck drivers are protesting recently introduced bylaws that cap their rates at a particular level and prohibit them from coming close to accidents. Over 120 tow truck drivers have blocked access to the parking lot of City Hall and have promised to come back every day for as long as it takes.
“Everyone has gotten charged. They knew we were going to protest in the next couple of months. We can’t even have emergency meetings.” says Mileto. Mileto says that if the drivers don't receive a response, they may consider legal action.
“They’re supposed to be protecting us, not going against us,” says Mileto. “We’re not asking for much. We can’t talk to anyone in accidents. We want to take soliciting out.”
Vaughan’s Mayor, Maurizio Bevilacqua, has issued a statement saying the new rate caps will be reviewed in nine months.
“We … aren’t doing anything bad,” says Mileto. “We just want a negotiation in which we're all treated fairly.”
“This protest is a result of the City of Vaughan bowing to the pressure from insurance companies who lobbied to cap towing rates,” says Joey Gagne, President of Abrams Towing. ”While I support the concept of reasonable pricing I don't see any give and take on behalf of the insurance industry.”
Tow truck drivers have pledged to protest the bylaws that they feel are restricting them until city hall can reach a verdict they can all agree on. Joey says, “The result is akin to David and Goliath with huge corporations crushing small business owners to achieve something that has many other reasonable solutions."
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| Last Updated on Friday, 29 June 2012 12:39 |
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