Edmonton, Alberta — The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) is currently warning drivers about an increase in towing scams from “unscrupulous towers” operating in the province.
Referred to as the “Know Before the Tow,” the awareness campaign is thus attempting to help Alberta drivers understand their rights following a collision.
Jeff Kasbrick, the vice president of advocacy and operations with AMA originally told CTV News that “these rights may ultimately seem straightforward, but in moments of distress they can be easily forgotten, and that’s why we’re urging all Albertans to be prepared to know their rights before they need them.”
These rights specifically include:
- The right to refuse unsolicited towing services
- The right to choose who tows your vehicle, and where, unless otherwise directed by police
- The right to access your vehicle to retrieve personal items during a storage facility’s business hours
- The right to ask if the towing company receives a kickback for taking your vehicle to a particular storage facility or repair shop
- The right to a quote before service and an itemized invoice before making a payment
According to the AMA, Edmonton and Calgary have seen an increase in instances of “predatory towing” in recent months, with some towing companies listening to emergency scanners to find the location of a collision and then pressuring drivers to use their services.
CTV News further noted that the issue has seen an increase in the province this past summer and fall, although exact numbers are not available to know how widespread the issue is as it is something that needs to be self-reported.
In order to help prevent the issue going forward, Alberta is planning a towing roundtable next year and the AMA plans to suggest a proposed buffer zone and fine to be applied province-wide.
Finally, all AMA centres will soon offer free printed copies of the information on towing rights for drivers to keep inside their vehicles as needed.
For more information, click here.
