Jackson County leaders expected to discuss regulating tow trucks next week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Jackson County leaders are expected to discuss ways to regulate tow services and wreckers while also holding drivers accountable.

Members of a legislative committee are expected to discuss new legislation during a meeting Monday morning.

The proposed changes would require tow businesses to have a business license and valid insurance. It also sets fines and punishments for anyone caught violating the ordinance, if it is eventually approved.

License and Fees

The proposal calls for each business or independent tow driver either located in the county, or that does at least 50% of business in the county, to have a valid tow license from Jackson County.

The business license would be an annual fee of $1,000. In addition, each business would be charged a $250 fee for each tow truck or wrecker they use.

In addition to the tow license, each business or driver must have a valid paid personal property tax receipt from the county.

Revenue from the tow licensing fees would go to the Housing Resources Commission under the proposal.

Insurance

If passed, the legislation also outlines insurance requirements tow truck drivers would need to operate in Jackson County.

• Bodily injury liability
  • $100,000 for each person
  • $300,000 for each accident
• Property damage liability
  • $100,000 for each accident

Anyone who applies for a tow truck license would also be required to show valid insurance that includes the liability limits of the policy.

Any wrecker or tow service licensed in Jackson County may also be required to have garage keepers liability insurance with at least $100,000 in coverage, according to the proposed ordinance. The insurance would cover damage to a vehicle when it is stored at a tow lot.

Proposed Penalties

Legislators also expected to discuss penalties and fines during Monday’s meeting.

The proposal includes suspending licenses. The length would likely depend on a company or driver’s history.

• 45-90 day suspension
  • Business or driver violates any part of the law in place
  • Business or driver violates city ordinances that pertain to tows
  • Business or driver has an active bench warrant
• 1 year suspension
  • Business or driver violates ordinance two or more times in 12 months
• 2 year suspension
  • Business or driver conducts tow operations while tow license is suspended

The proposal still needs to be approved by committee members, the full legislature, and finally signed by County Executive Frank White to take effect.

Kansas City leaders are working on their own tow truck regulations after prosecutors charged the owners of Metro Tow in connection with illegally towing cars.

City leaders are expected to start discussing a city ordinance next week. It could require the city to work with Jackson County on tow truck regulations and penalties going forward.

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