Posted 1/07/2005 05:26:00 PM by Douglas

Not content with being the fatest city in American, Houston is now vying for the dumbest, as well. What other possible justification could there be for the City of Houston to give tow-truck drivers the authority to steal your car?

Under the program, disabled vehicles on Houston's freeways — including the shoulders — must be quickly towed for a fee of $75 for the first five miles and $1.50 for each additional mile, excluding any storage fees, if necessary.

Towing companies that have contracts with the city under the new program must try to reach stranded vehicles six minutes after they are called.

So, if you're a bored tow-truck driver and want to hook a quick $75, you can tow any car on the Houston freeway, even if it's not blocking traffic. What if you ran out of gas, and come back with a gas can in ten minutes? Sorry. What if you're changing a flat? Too bad. You're going to get towed, and the drivers have the authority to call HPD to enforce this insanity, should you get a littly mouthy in your protests.

During his helicopter ride, White said he witnessed two tows, but in both instances there were delays in getting authorization from law enforcement to complete the tows.

I love it. "Authorization from law enforcement" means that there was a person there with their freakin' car trying to keep their car from being towed, and they had to call the cops to enforce it. So why is the city intent on such an asinine plan? Hmmm, I wonder

The companies are collectively paying the city about $1 million a year for exclusive rights to serve sections of freeways within the city limit.

It all comes back to the money, doesn't it? How disgraceful. Under the guise of improving Houston's traffic problems, Mayor White has become the worst kind of shill. Contracting out a horrible policy to thugs that drive tow-trucks that have to enforce them. Isn't this guy a Democrat? Aren't they supposed to be the guys that don't screw over the little guy on the side of the road with car trouble?