Friday, April 22, 2011
HOUSTON – Mayor Annise Parker on Thursday announced major changes to the towing program known as Safe Clear
HOUSTON – Mayor Annise Parker on Thursday announced major changes to the towing program known as Safe Clear.
The free towing program started in 2005 and was highly touted by former Mayor Bill White as a way to ease the city’s freeway congestion.
But Parker wants to shift the cost of the service from the taxpayers to the drivers.
Under her plan, it will cost $50 for a tow and $30 for a roadside service, like a tire change.
Drivers who can’t pay up will have their vehicles placed in a safe and secure facility for up to 48 hours, free of charge.
The city has set aside $100,000 to help drivers who are seniors, disabled or with incomes below the poverty line cover the cost of the towing fee if they’re unable to pay.
It’s a move some say will benefit the cash-strapped city.
"In a bad economy, loss of revenues, the real question is who’s responsible for putting a vehicle on the road?" asked 11 News Political Expert Bob Stein. "It strikes me the city’s not responsible for that, the driver is. What I suspect they’re looking to do is to shift that responsibility to the owner and driver of the vehicle."
Rice University studies have shown Safe Clear has succeeded in decreasing collisions and traffic – but the tows have added up and the program was $1.5 million over budget during the 2010 fiscal year.
"I’ve advocated for a long time that we terminate the program because we cannot afford it as a city and I think that drivers have an inherent responsibility to be responsible for their vehicle," said Councilman Mike Sullivan.
The new fee still has to be approved by the city council.
City considering cutting Safe Clear free tows
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The city of Houston is cash-strapped and in a budget crunch, so the mayor is proposing some fees be added to the Safe Clear towing program. She outlined her plan on Thursday.
City considering cutting Safe Clear free tows
Mayor Annise Parker announced her plans for the program known as "Safe Clear." The towing program was started six years ago, but now there's not enough money to keep it going without serious changes.
City leaders considered charges for tows and roadside assistance. They proposed a $50 charge for a Safe Clear tow and $30 for roadside service, like a tire change. A vehicle stored for two days will be for free so you can secure the $50. The city has set aside $100,000 for seniors and low income or disabled to help them cover the cost.
"The Safe Clear program currently does about 74,000 tows a year at a cost of nearly $3.5 million," said Mayor Parker. "It's a good program. It does good work but it is an expensive program for the city."
Drivers who can't pay will have their vehicle stored for 48 hours until they can come up with the money. We spoke with several drivers about the proposed changes.
When this program began years ago during Mayor Bill White's administration, the idea was to get stalled vehicles off the road fast to avoid a backup, and avoid that long line of wrecker drivers, too. The city was doing it at no cost to the driver.
"We were just doing something that was socially acceptable for a lot of people who don't have the money. Some things just come down to that. You have to cut somewhere," said Katy resident Bill Buvinghausen.
"It shouldn't have been free in the first place because your vehicle is your responsibility and if it stalls, you're obviously not maintaining it correctly," said north Houston resident Arpita Baweja.
"Fifty dollars or $150, I'm still paying for it. Maybe it's not my fault but we all have to pay for it," said driver Atheer Hatem.
This is a proposal going to council next week. Their approval is required. If approved, the plan may be implemented as early as June.
City considering cutting Safe Clear free tows
Mayor Annise Parker announced her plans for the program known as "Safe Clear." The towing program was started six years ago, but now there's not enough money to keep it going without serious changes.
City leaders considered charges for tows and roadside assistance. They proposed a $50 charge for a Safe Clear tow and $30 for roadside service, like a tire change. A vehicle stored for two days will be for free so you can secure the $50. The city has set aside $100,000 for seniors and low income or disabled to help them cover the cost.
"The Safe Clear program currently does about 74,000 tows a year at a cost of nearly $3.5 million," said Mayor Parker. "It's a good program. It does good work but it is an expensive program for the city."
Drivers who can't pay will have their vehicle stored for 48 hours until they can come up with the money. We spoke with several drivers about the proposed changes.
When this program began years ago during Mayor Bill White's administration, the idea was to get stalled vehicles off the road fast to avoid a backup, and avoid that long line of wrecker drivers, too. The city was doing it at no cost to the driver.
"We were just doing something that was socially acceptable for a lot of people who don't have the money. Some things just come down to that. You have to cut somewhere," said Katy resident Bill Buvinghausen.
"It shouldn't have been free in the first place because your vehicle is your responsibility and if it stalls, you're obviously not maintaining it correctly," said north Houston resident Arpita Baweja.
"Fifty dollars or $150, I'm still paying for it. Maybe it's not my fault but we all have to pay for it," said driver Atheer Hatem.
This is a proposal going to council next week. Their approval is required. If approved, the plan may be implemented as early as June.
Council will consider $50 fee for SafeClear tows
A formerly free city towing service intended to clear cars from freeways and reduce congestion will cost motorists $50 per tow, Mayor Annise Parker said Thursday.
The changes to the SafeClear program, which began under former Mayor Bill White in 2005, will go before City Council for approval next week and could take effect in June, Parker said.
Roadside services, such as changing a tire, would cost $30.
The city had been paying that $50 per tow. Under Parker's plan, the city's only involvement in the program would be a $100,000 fund, set aside to cover the fees of indigent drivers.
If a driver cannot pay when towed, the car could stay at a storage lot for 48 hours without charge while the owner found the money, Parker said. She acknowledged that loss of revenue to lot operators took time to negotiate.
SafeClear "makes it safe for the motorists who have broken down and it makes it safer for the rest of the traveling public," Parker said. "We believe that this is a much more sustainable program going forward."
Passing the burden to motorists would save the city $3.5 million.
The program otherwise will not change. When a car breaks down in the emergency lane, the city will dispatch a wrecker to tow it from the freeway, with or without the driver's consent.
Parker and Jeanette Rash, of the SafeClear Management Group, a consortium of SafeClear contractors, said they are trying to work with auto clubs and insurers to arrange direct billing so motorists will not have to pay wreckers first and seek reimbursement later.
Houston paid most SafeClear costs with mobility funds it receives from the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Cutting SafeClear costs will let the city use those funds for roads.
The changes to the SafeClear program, which began under former Mayor Bill White in 2005, will go before City Council for approval next week and could take effect in June, Parker said.
Roadside services, such as changing a tire, would cost $30.
The city had been paying that $50 per tow. Under Parker's plan, the city's only involvement in the program would be a $100,000 fund, set aside to cover the fees of indigent drivers.
If a driver cannot pay when towed, the car could stay at a storage lot for 48 hours without charge while the owner found the money, Parker said. She acknowledged that loss of revenue to lot operators took time to negotiate.
SafeClear "makes it safe for the motorists who have broken down and it makes it safer for the rest of the traveling public," Parker said. "We believe that this is a much more sustainable program going forward."
Passing the burden to motorists would save the city $3.5 million.
The program otherwise will not change. When a car breaks down in the emergency lane, the city will dispatch a wrecker to tow it from the freeway, with or without the driver's consent.
Parker and Jeanette Rash, of the SafeClear Management Group, a consortium of SafeClear contractors, said they are trying to work with auto clubs and insurers to arrange direct billing so motorists will not have to pay wreckers first and seek reimbursement later.
Houston paid most SafeClear costs with mobility funds it receives from the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Cutting SafeClear costs will let the city use those funds for roads.
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