Westhampton Beach wants access to larger pool of tow truck operators

Westhampton Beach is considering changing its ordinance regarding tow truck companies so that it can increase the number that are available to the municipality at any one time, according to Village Police Chief Ray Dean.

Currently, the village has just four tow truck operators who are available to complete police department work, such as cleaning up after car accidents, impounding vehicles and moving disabled vehicles off village roads, Chief Dean explained. Right now, those operators are located either within the village or no more than two miles outside of it, he said.

The proposed ordinance change seeks to increase that radius to five miles, Chief Dean said, allowing the police department access to more towing companies.

The proposed change will be discussed at a public hearing scheduled for the next Village Board meeting on Thursday, May 7, at 7 p.m.

Those tow truck operators who want to be added to the list must apply to the village and pay a $100 fee, according to Village Clerk Kathy McGinnis.

At the present time, only Otis Ford in Quogue, Shoreline Towing in East Quogue, and Westhampton Coachworks and Ultimate Car Care, both in Westhampton Beach, are on the village’s approved call list, said Westhampton Beach Mayor Conrad Teller.

“This is a hot potato,” the mayor said during last week’s work session. “We’ll be stirring up all the tow trucks from here to Patchogue.”

If it changes the ordinance, the village could expect to attract tow truck operators from as far east as East Quogue, as far north as Flanders, and as far west as Eastport.

Chief Dean said Tuesday that the police department needs to call for a tow truck at least once a month, and more often during the summer months.

At last week’s work session, Deputy Mayor Jim Kametler said he opposed the change, noting that those towing companies paying village taxes should have first crack at any village work. “I don’t understand why we’re expanding our horizons,” he said.

Chief Dean explained that having more tow truck operators at their disposal will assist police officers during emergencies. He said that having more towers available at the same time would enable police to quickly clean up multiple-car accidents and get traffic moving faster.