Cities Towing Stranded Cars

So many cars are stuck in the streets that it's hard for the plows to clear the snow. That's why cities like Tulsa and Broken Arrow are starting to impound cars that have not been removed.

Wednesday, February 2nd 2011, 1:58 pm

By: News On 6

NewsOn6.com

UNDATED -- Motorists whose cars are abandoned along Green Country roads should do their utmost to move those vehicles, city officials announced Wednesday.

Broken Arrow and Tulsa are actively towing cars and warn motorists that they will have to pay towing fees before getting their cars back. Average fees range from $100 to $150.

Even if you currently are on a waiting list for a wrecker company, your vehicle may be subject to city towing, so it is advisable to do everything possible to get cars out of the roadways and off the shoulders.

Emergency vehicles are priority number one for towing companies. Storey Wrecker says it will tow those vehicles first, and then get to citizens.

"People are upset we're helping police and fire instead of them, but you gotta consider when you call 911, somebody needs to be able to respond," said Wayne Pierce, Storey Wrecker.

Stranded vehicles interfering with emergency vehicle response times. They are also preventing crews from clearing the streets.

Tulsa Police officers are responding to calls in their personal four-wheel drive vehicles.

"Once you get off in neighborhoods, they're not plowed at all. Some calls we go to, only tracks are ours. We try to follow them in and follow them out so we don't get stuck," Officer Shawn McGeough said.

Without squad cars, they don't have access to their in car computers, so one corporal brought along one of the department's few small, portable computers to help.

Some of their calls involved helping their own get moving, so those officers could then go help others. That's also why the fire department helped tow ambulances all day. Some had to be towed into neighborhoods for calls and towed back out again.

If you go back to get your car out and it's not there, call the police department in your town where impounded cars are taken and be prepared to pay to get it out.

The wrecker companies realize people will be mad, especially if they feel the car wasn't towed fast enough so it got impounded, but the companies say they're only doing what the cities tell them.