The OPP Provincial Auto Theft and Towing Team says it is diligently working to address criminality in the towing industry to identify, disrupt, and dismantle organized crime groups violating regulations and exploiting other tow operators.
"Police are aware of ongoing criminality and violence committed by a small percentage of bad actors within the towing industry, and endeavour to lead proactive and intelligence-led investigations to identify those involved and lay charges," says a release.
"Most tow companies and operators are not involved in organized crime or criminal activities and follow regulations under the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA)."
In 2024, law enforcement ramped up action against the Ontario towing industry, such as enforcement activities, removing illegitimate tow companies, trucks and operators from the road and laying TSSEA charges. The OPP Provincial Tow Program has aimed to improve public safety and help mitigate criminality in Ontario's towing industry.
In order to be an approved Towing and Storage Service Operator (TSSO), a tow operator or tow company must meet certain requirements, including a criminal record check, and certification through the Ministry of Transportation Ontario.
2024 AT A GLANCE: QUICK FACTS
- OPP laid 518 tow-related charges and removed 41 tow trucks from Ontario roads due to violations. OPP Highway Safety Division completed seven proactive commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement initiatives focused on tow inspections, and 30 other CMV enforcement initiatives where tow trucks were subject to inspection.
- Toronto Police Service (TPS) continues to crack down on tow truck-related shootings through their Tow Truck Task Force. A total of 507 tow-related charges were laid by TPS under the Highway Traffic Act and TSSEA and three tow trucks were removed from the road.
- Durham Regional Police Service took proactive measures, including a CMV safety initiative, to ensure compliance with safety regulations where 170 tow trucks were inspected, 69 tow-related charges were laid, and 22 tow trucks were removed from the road for safety violations.
- Peel Regional Police Road Safety Services has conducted inspection and enforcement activities as part of an ongoing initiative since August 2024. To date, two arrests were made under the Criminal Code, 234 tow-related charges laid, 79 inspected tow trucks were found to be non-compliant, and nine tow trucks were removed from the road.
- York Regional Police conducted multiple initiatives aimed at reducing tow-related violence and hosted a training symposium for frontline officers from across the GTA to educate them on the new TSSEA. These initiatives led to 176 tow truck inspections across the region and as a result, 47 tow-related charges were laid under the Highway Traffic Act and TSSEA.
Anyone with information about criminality in the towing industry is encouraged to contact their police service of jurisdiction. If you feel intimidated or threatened by anyone in the towing industry, do not engage, keep your distance, and contact the police. Concerns and complaints regarding tow operators can be filed through the MTO's website.
KNOW YOUR TOW
The OPP and its partners want to remind the public that they have the right to decide who can tow their vehicle and to what location. Please visit opp.ca/towing to find more information and understand your towing rights.
"Gun violence tied to the tow truck industry continues to be a serious issue, with 60 tow-truck related shootings this year, accounting for 14 per cent of all shooting incidents in Toronto," says TPS Staff Superintendent Joe Matthews of Detective Operations.
"We are addressing tow truck-related crimes through a service-wide approach, while keeping in mind that this violence stems from a small segment of the industry involved in territorial disputes. Project Beacon, led by the Tow Truck Task Force, highlights the impact of coordinated efforts with our law enforcement partners, resulting in six arrests and 184 charges laid in connection with a homicide and tow-truck related shootings.
"This is not a challenge we can tackle alone, and we will continue working closely with our partners to combat these crimes and make our communities safer."