Hamilton has barred tow truck drivers from its collision reporting centers after complaints about harassing tow truck operators and body shop representatives.

The city and police officials have been receiving a number of complaints from people who say they have been accosted at collision reporting centers by so-called "chasers" pleading for their business and promoting deals, said Paul Buckle, manager of animal control, who wrote the report that council recently approved.

Mr. Buckle said the new bylaw, which rescinds the previous city bylaw, was prompted by concerns from police officers and the Hamilton District Auto Body Association.

The former bylaw prohibited tow truck drivers 200 meters from an accident scene, preventing them from soliciting motorists for business. Tow trucks are also prohibited from parking, stopping or standing on a highway, roadway or even alleyway within 200 meters of an accident.

The bylaw, though, did not restrict tow truck operators from soliciting people for business at a collision reporting centre.

"We don't mind them stopping," said Mr. Buckle. "We just don't want them soliciting."

Hamilton police services and the city cited repeated complaints from people about the problems they have endured from these business representatives.

The revised bylaw, approved by councillors earlier this month, prohibits the solicitation by tow truck drivers within 200 meters of the reporting centre.

"It is the opinion of the police service chasers are 'circumventing the collision reporting system by harassing the drivers into using services of one specific repair facility and making them believe they have not other choices prior to attending the CRC ...," stated the report.

Mr. Buckle said a person involved in a collision "may not be in the best frame of mind" to made a business decision.

"We don't want to prevent people from hiring an operator, but we believe they are not making the best decision" after a collision, said Mr. Buckle.

The bylaw also allows the person to talk to the police and an insurance representative before deciding on how to repair the vehicle.

The bylaw will not prevent a tow truck driver from approaching the collision scene once the person has called for assistance, said Mr. Buckle.

Police officers and city parking and enforcement officers will now have the authority to move the tow truck and lay charges.

At the moment, said Mr. Buckle, they can only issue a summons. The court will eventually set the fine, he said.

But, he said, the city will petition the court to allow officers to issue either a summons or a ticket, similar to a speeding infraction.

Hamilton has three collision reporting centers. One at Central Station at 155 King William Street, 2825 King Street East and 400 Rymal Road East on the Mountain.