The idea of changing the way wreckers are dispatched by police was brought to the Henryetta city council Tuesday night.
Douglas Vowell, son of Henryetta Wrecker owner Jim Vowell, told the council there are several benefits with a contracted service.
Currently, wreckers are dispatched on a rotation basis. That has been in effect over 30 years according to police chief Steve Norman.
Vowell told the council by contracting with a single wrecker service, vehicle owners would be able to go to a single source to find their vehicle. He explained there are occasions when a car is loaned to a friend, son or daughter. “The car gets impounded and the owner doesn’t know what wrecker is involved. One contracted company eliminates that,” he explained.
He went on to say the city could see added revenue from a contract service.
In 2016, he said 216 vehicles were impounded. Vowell proposed a $25 release fee for vehicles. “People can afford that.” Using those figures, he said the city could have received $5,400 and explained other cities and towns are charging release fees. Dewar charges $100, Eufaula charges $50. Tulsa has a $75 charge and it will cost $100 in Oklahoma City to have a vehicle released.
Vowell said that release fee would not be applicable in the event of a stolen vehicle. “The owners are already penalized,” he said.
Another benefit would be a dedicated wrecker and driver available at all hours of the day and night. “It would eliminate the dispatcher calling other services if a wrecker can’t be used.”
Vowell said wrecker service personnel must be certified to work. “DPS (Department of Public Safety) is taking a new approach to their manual. In the previous 25 years there has been no changes made. Towing has changed so much in that time and the cars have changed so much.”
He said DPS is getting stricter on equipment wrecker companies use and has reinstated yearly licensing. “They know there are trucks that should not be on the road.”
The council did ot vote on the proposal. “This would be a bidding process,” said Jennifer Clason. “The city attorney would have to look at it.”
Currently there are three wrecker services in Henryetta.