Councilman Robert Holden introduced a set of bills on Jan. 24 that will take on towing and cement truck practices that lead to dangerous road conditions.
The bills would require NYPD responding to the scene of an accident to inform those involved of procedures pertaining to the Directed Accident Response Program (DARP), in which the authorities will dispatch licensed tow trucks to remove cars from scenes while leaving the drop-off locations up to those involved in a collision.
Officers would instruct motorists on how to tell whether or not the truck was licensed by the city and dispatched to legally remove their vehicles.
“Although DARP was created to crack down on the towing industry, the dangerous practice of racing to the scene of an accident is still a major problem,” Holden said. “I have personally been nearly run off the road by a reckless tow-truck driver more than once. These bills will help drivers understand DARP regulations and encourage them to report bad-actors.”
The second bill pertaining to tow trucks would require the city Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications to give people submitting an online 311 complaint the ability to upload photos and videos to report illegal tow operations.
The third bill will mandate that cement trucks be equipped with spill bags to keep concrete and mounds of gravel off roadways, protecting motorists from hazardous conditions, according to Holden.
“When driving around the city, it is common to find mounds of cement or piles of gravel and sand that can be hazardous to drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians alike,” Holden said. “Before these mounds cause any more accidents, damage to tires, fenders or other part of a car or bike, or a trip-and-fall incident, requiring spillage bags on all trucks is a simple and easy solution.”
These bills are currently under committee review, according to the City Council website.
