New York City lawmakers want to regulate the city’s unlicensed towing industry after a Gothamist investigation found that hundreds of illegal tow trucks are operating across the five boroughs.
Councilmember Frank Morano, a Staten Island Republican, introduced a resolution Thursday calling on the state Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul to require the DMV to confirm that tow trucks seeking to operate in New York City are also licensed by the city agency overseeing the industry before issuing tow truck plates.
“It’s not just a loophole,” Morano said. “It’s an engraved invitation. And guess what happens next? You get operators racing to crash scenes, blowing through red lights, cutting corners, because the worst they’re facing is a ticket.”
Gothamist’s investigation identified 712 illegal tow trucks cited for speeding or running red lights last year in the city. Those trucks had DMV-issued license plates indicating they were tow trucks, but they lacked permission from the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
Morano said state lawmakers should address the gap in oversight between the city and state.
Unlicensed and licensed tow trucks were involved in 15 fatal crashes since 2010, according to a review of news coverage and official records.
Filippo Bonura was driving a tow truck registered with the DMV in 2023 when he struck and killed a man in Queens — but neither he nor the truck were registered with the city for towing work, Gothamist previously reported. Bonura denied wrongdoing and criminal charges against him were dismissed.
“If you need a city license to operate a tow truck in New York City, you should have to prove that before you get tow truck plates,” Morano said.
A DMV spokesperson declined to comment on the resolution, but said oversight of the city’s towing industry is the responsibility of city government.
Gothamist previously reported that a lack of oversight had allowed “chasers” to flourish on city streets. Chasers are typically illegal tow truck drivers who rely on tips about car crashes that just occurred. The chasers then race to the scene to tow the damaged vehicle. The more valuable the car, the more money the chaser can get from the tow.
Many crash victims told Gothamist their cars were held hostage at unscrupulous body shops that shook them down for junk fees and phony repairs.
Councilmember Phil Wong, who represents Maspeth and surrounding neighborhoods, is co-sponsoring the bill. Before taking office, worked for Councilmember Robert Holden, who was an outspoken critic of the towing industry. Holden tangled with a body shop near his district office where he said towers routinely broke the law by parking on sidewalks and running red lights.
Morano said he also plans to talk to the NYPD about tow trucks that operate in the city with normal passenger or out-of-state plates.
A spokesperson for Council Speaker Julie Menin said she is committed to improving safety on the streets and would review Morano’s resolution.
