HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-29-26 Meeting Minutes of the La Porte Wrecker Committee
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MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 29, 2026
MEETING OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE WRECKER COMMITTEE
The City of La Porte Wrecker Committee met Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 8:15 a.m.,
in the City Hall Council Chamber, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas.
Committee Members Present: Ryan Hvitløk, Director of Planning and Development
Department, City Manager’s Designee; Lee Woodward, City Secretary; Lt. Marcus
Upchurch, LPPD Police Chief’s Designee
Staff Members Present: Clark Askins, City Attorney; Assistant Chief Bennie Boles;
Maria Peña, Planning and Development Department Coordinator.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Maria Peña called the meeting to order at 8:17 a.m.
2. CITIZEN COMMENT
(Generally limited to five minutes per person; in accordance with state law, the time
may be reduced if there is a high number of speakers or other considerations.)
No comments.
3. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the minutes of
the December 22, 2025, meeting.
The meeting minutes of the December 22, 2025, meeting were approved as
provided.
4. Rate review request
Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider a recommendation to the
La Porte City Council to authorize a change to tow rates within the city limits of La
Porte, Texas, pursuant to a request submitted by Joe Davis of Priority Towing, Inc.
Lt. Marcus Upchurch suggested not proceeding until it is possible to find out if
increases are being proposed by area cities.
Mr. Joe Davis listed cities nearby that also permit an administrative or gov’t-entity
fee collected by the towing committee when the vehicle is released, generally $20-
25, set by the municipality.
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5. ITEM ADDED JAN. 21, 2026 - Clarification on LPPD wrecker dispatching
processes
Discussion of LPPD wrecker dispatching processes for both light and heavy duty
calls in standard and exigent circumstances.
Mr. Todd Johnston, Apple Towing, stated that the rotation company called should
get the tow, even if another company arrives first.
Lt. Marcus Upchurch clarified that LPPD must consider both the rotation ETA and
situation circumstances. Bypassing occurs in existent circumstances.
Transportation Code provides that authority to deviate from procedure.
Mr. Todd Johnston, Apple Towing, stated that rotation companies are vetted,
trained, and have appropriate equipment. He stated that speed alone should not
dictate which company received the call.
Asst. Chief Bennie Boles clarified that when a wrecked vehicle’s company wrecker
arrives before the rotation wrecker arrives and begins work, LPPD cannot preempt
because a rotation call has been made. For light duty, the wrecked vehicle has a
20-minute limit, unlike for heavy tows.
Mr. Todd Johnston, Apple Towing, stated that this made it a non-consent tow and
the heavy-duty situation was related to ‘quick-clearance’, preempting the vehicle
owner’s leeway.
Asst. Chief Bennie Boles explained that non-consent only applied if there was no
representative present or was incapacitated. Todd Johnston and Joe Davis
disagreed on the definition of non-consent tow, saying it was applicable if law
enforcement had taken the scene. Discussion included the possibility of officers
calling towing owners directly, if warranted, to encourage better resource
allocation, depending on ETA given.
6. ADJOURN
Without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 9:01 a.m.
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Maria Peña
Planning and Development Department Coordinator