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Panel hears bill to curb 'wreck‑chasing' and add penalties for tow‑truck solicitation
Summary
Sen. Barry Usher said Senate Bill 455 would ban roadside solicitation by tow companies and add small, progressive penalties to enforce the statutory rotation system; towing-industry witnesses described wreck‑chasing, consumer harm and support for enforcement by Highway Patrol.
Sen. Barry Usher (Senate District 19) told the committee Senate Bill 455 is intended to preserve fairness in the state's rotation towing system by prohibiting roadside solicitation and creating penalties where current law lacks teeth. "There's been a dramatic increase in predatory towing issues where towing companies are patrolling the highways and stealing calls," he said, and he described bipartisan input from the Highway Patrol on enforceable penalties.
Scott Wolff, president of the Montana Tow Truck Association and owner of Iron Horse Towing, described multiple…
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