01:26 PM CST on Wednesday, January 19, 2005

By Reggie Aqui / 11 News

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Houston lawmakers are meeting Wednesday to discuss changing the city's new controversial towing law. Tow truck drivers and owners took the opportunity to protest the Safe Clear plan during the public comment portion of the meeting Wednesday morning.

"I understand if they want to pick up the wrecks, the abandoned vechicles out in a moving lane of traffic," said Charles Merchant from Bubba's Wrecker Service. "Give us a chance to pick up the people who want us to pick them up."

In addition to criticism from drivers, some council members were not clear about what was on the table Wednesday regarding Safe Clear.

"I think there are a lot of council members who are saying to the mayor, 'Slow down ... we're moving too fast.' Let's reassess the situation here because there are so many different versions on the table," said council member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. "I don't even know what version we're voting on today."

But, there could be yet another snag in the mayor's plan.

As the Safe Clear saga continues, the vote on the mayor's changes to the towing plan, which would provide for free tows in some cases paid from the city budget, could be delayed.

Sources tell 11 News that some council members will tag the proposed changes Wednesday when the issue comes up for a vote. That means another week will pass before the council can vote again. At issue is the $75 fee some drivers say is too expensive for a simple flat or other problem drivers could potentially fix themselves.

The mayor wants to give those drivers with minor problems free tows off the highway, paying for them out of the city budget.

Even if the vote doesn't happen Wednesday, it appears the mayor has a comfortable majority on the issue within the council. But that vote could be delayed a week or more.