Tow ordinance on city agenda in Los Fresnos

The Los Fresnos City Council tonight will consider an ordinance that would allow the police to tow vehicles when drivers are unable to provide proof of auto insurance.

The vehicles would be impounded until the uninsured driver purchases liability insurance. The measure is meant to persuade drivers to purchase insurance before a costly accident occurs.

According to Police Chief James Harris, more than 25 percent of area drivers are uninsured.

At the present, police officers here issue citations to drivers who lack insurance, but that policy is often ineffective.

"You can keep issuing citations, but people still don't buy insurance," Harris said. "If they get into an accident, those with insurance would get the bad end of the stick."

Towing uninsured drivers' vehicles would be a far more effective deterrent, Harris said.

"It would make them realize they need to get insurance quickly," he said.

The City of Harlingen implemented such a policy by unanimous vote of the city commission on May 21.

If the ordinance is adopted in Los Fresnos, the city's two towing companies, All Valley and A & M, could have their hands full. The two companies now share towing responsibilities.