Chop Stop: More than $350,000 in stolen vehicles seized from Vaughan auto shop
Vaughan, Ontario — Yet another chop shop operation has been shut down in the GTA this week, as York Regional Police (YRP) shed light on an investigation into an auto repair shop in Vaughan that was allegedly re-VINing and selling stolen vehicles. The YRP’s Auto/Cargo Theft Unit has charged four people in connection with the […]
Field Testing: Tesla Full Self-Driving Beta tears down geofence in downtown Toronto
An FSD-powered self driving route, right in the heart of Toronto. (Twitter/Chansoo Byeon) Toronto, Ontario — Tesla has removed Full-Self Driving (FSD) beta restrictions from Toronto’s downtown core, following complaints among drivers that much of the city’s urban centre is geofenced off by the software. This was confirmed in a tweet by FSD tester Chansoo Byeon […]
Special Favours: Two GTA OPP officers arrested for special treatment to certain tow operators
Toronto, Ontario — Details from an internal investigation from the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Professional Standards Unit have uncovered that two Mississauga, Ont.-based police officers, Sgt. Terrence Reefer and Const. Roberto Visconti, were arrested for allegedly giving preferential treatment to certain tow truck operators within the GTA. The two officers, both from the OPP’s Mississauga […]
On the Lookout: York police calling on industry’s assistance in tracking fatal hit-and-run driver
Richmond Hill, Ontario — York Regional Police (YPS) are calling on Toronto-area auto repair shops to keep an eye out for a vehicle linked to a fatal hit-and-run in Richmond Hill earlier this month, as the fleeing driver may have sought repairs in the area. YPS reached out to Collision Repair on Tuesday morning for […]
Towing the Line: Ontario police expand requirements for tow operators applying for requested service status
Toronto, Ontario — As the one-year mark on a number of major overhauls to Ontario’s towing industry approaches tow truck operators looking to reapply as OPP-requested services are on the hook to complete their own criminal record checks this time around following a series of updates to the provincial program. Towing and Storage Service Operators […]
Service with a Smile: $12M in vehicles seized, 28 arrested in auto theft investigation, including four Service Ontario Employees
Toronto, Ontario — The average hourly wage (Customer Representative) for a Service Ontario employee is approximately $20–25$ per hour. While this is a serviceable wage for some, it wasn’t enough for the four employees who aided in a huge stolen vehicle crime ring busted early Thursday afternoon. The bust comes from Project Myra, an investigation […]
Catch and Release: Project Platinum towing corruption case falls through in Newmarket, Ont. court
Newmarket, Ontario — When reports of corruption within the GTA’s towing industry first hit mainstream headlines, local police services looked poised to get to the bottom of it, but as the aftermath of Project Platinum is sorted out in court this week, defence lawyers are baffled by the amount of charges that have been stayed. […]
A Mark on the Land: Uniparts names Mark Warwick North GTA territory manager
Toronto, Ontario — Mark Warwick has been named Uniparts’ new territory manager for the company’s North GTA region, according to a press release from Thursday. Warwick first joined the industry as a parts counter person for a Honda dealer in Mississauga, Ont. 35 years ago. He honed his skills as a parts expert during his […]
Tough Road for The Toad: One million animals killed annually on GTA roads, conservation study says
Toronto, Ontario — Let us take a moment to pour one out for the one million woodland critters who met their demise on GTA roads over the past year, as a study conducted by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the University of Toronto finalizes 2021’s official roadkill body count. In a compilation of […]
Hooked Up: Provincial Towing Association of Ontario supports operator licensing plan
Ottawa, Ontario — Advocates for Ontario’s towing industry are voicing their support for the provincial government’s plans to introduce a tow operator licensing framework, in the hopes of securing a more fair and ethical way forward for those employed in the industry. The Provincial Towing Association of Ontario (PTAO) says that it fully endorses the […]
