As stories pile up about unscrupulous tow truck drivers swooping in at the site of auto crash scenes, politicians are right to step up to the defence of victims.

Calgary Coun. Peter Demong recently said bylaws could be changed to prevent what he called “predatory behaviour by towing companies at vehicle collisions.”

It’s been suggested, for example, that towing companies would not be allowed to operate without being summoned by emergency officials within a certain radius of a crash site.

While tweaks to city laws would be a welcome start, it seems quite clear some more robust and widespread action is needed.

Changes can’t come soon enough to prevent people already traumatized by auto crashes from being taken advantage of by tow truck owners who don’t have their customers’ best interests at heart.

The current dearth of regulations covering the sector means there is no limit to what a towing company can charge to haul a vehicle away and to store it.

Speaking with a Postmedia reporter recently, a vice-president with the Insurance Bureau of Canada urged the province to establish a fee schedule for such services to prevent customers from being gouged.

B.C., Ontario and Manitoba were cited as provinces where such rules........

© Edmonton Sun