Milton police chief presents proposed ordinance to regulate wrecker operations

Chief Frank, the police chief for the City of Milton, told the council at its work session that the city will introduce an ordinance amending Chapter 46 to regulate wrecker and tow operators.

“As it currently stands, we do not have regulation within the city that restricts or puts some parameters for our tow operator and tow operation processes,” Chief Frank said. He said the proposed ordinance would create an operator qualification and rotation system, set definitions and maximum allowable rates, require record keeping, and establish enforcement penalties and an appeal process.

Chief Frank said the draft includes a three‑year cycle for companies on the city’s rotation list but requires an annual submission of each company’s driver list so the city can verify valid driver’s licenses and check for disqualifying records. “Those would be automatically disqualifiers,” he said, listing elder‑abuse, child‑abuse protections and the sexually violent offender registry as examples.

The chief said the goal is not to bar companies from contracting with the city but to prevent individual drivers with disqualifying records from participating in city‑directed tows. The draft also calls for a warning and opportunity-to-improve process before an operator may be suspended from the rotation.

Council members asked about the presentation requirements and whether the full ordinance must be read aloud at the meeting; staff said the city attorney will handle required readings. No formal action was taken at the work session; staff indicated they had run the draft by the city attorney and would bring the ordinance forward for the required readings at a future meeting.

The council will consider the proposed Chapter 46 changes in a later meeting where public comment and a formal vote would be possible.