City controller launches audit of Houston's tow program

06:20 PM CDT on Thursday, June 2, 2005

By Doug Miller / 11 News

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New questions about Houston's controversial freeway towing plan have prompted the city controller to launch an audit.

The mayor fired back with new numbers proving Safe Clear is a success in dramatically decreasing the number of accidents on Houston freeways.

Wrecker drivers who won the contracts like it, as do a lot of drivers broken down on the roadside.

Since the Safe Clear towing program took effect, the number of accidents on Houston freeways is down 9.7 percent compared to last year.

"Safe Clear is working. People who are driving for a living and are often out on the highway see less rubbernecking occurring, less disruption as people are backed up," said Mayor Bill White.

The problem is that Safe Clear drivers are doing a whole lot more free tows than the mayor expected.

They mayor originally projected it'd cost $300,000 a year. Now he estimates it'll cost almost five times more, at $1.5 million.

"No one in their right mind realized that these free tows were going to be of the volume that they turned out to be," said Ken Ulmer, President, A-1 Towing.

The mayor figured he would pay for the program with money from Metro and from the franchise fees Safe Clear towing companies pay the city.

But questions about Safe Clear have now led the city controller to launch an audit.

"Council is about to pass the budget. And that budget includes cost for Safe Clear. They want to have a comfort level with what it's actually costing," said Annise Parker, Houston City Controller.

Sure, a lot of wrecker drivers and stranded motorists are happy. But right now, nobody can be sure just how much all of this free roadside help will cost.

The mayor said that the controller's decision to conduct an audit was great, but there is clearly some tension. The mayor's staff thinks the controller is implying that Mayor White is somehow withholding information from City Council.