Despite strong opposition from many in the towing and recovery industry, the Houston City Council said yes last week to a towing reform package introduced by Mayor Bill White.

The plan, said to be effective Jan. 1, is keep traffic moving by immediate towing of stalled vehicles.

"When drivers enter the city limits, they need to understand that if you stop it, we're going to tow it," David Saperstein, chairman of the Mayor's Office of Mobility, told The Houston Chronicle after the 11-4 vote. "We want to reduce deaths, injuries and accidents, put a stop to it. This ordinance is going to do it."

The plan establishes zones throughout the interstate network; the company that wins the bid for that zone will get the call. Small towing companies fought the plan, saying the new zone system, which takes effect Jan. 1, could put them out of business because larger towers have the resources to outbid them for a freeway zone.

No longer will the owner of the vehicle have a choice of towers, and that has some people worried, too. According to the newspaper, concerns were expressed that people who don't have the money for a mandatory tow could end up having their vehicles impounded just because they ran out of gas or had a flat tire.

Prior to the vote, several modifications were made to the plan, The Chronicle reported. Wrecker companies will not need to possess heavy-duty equipment in order to bid on the segments, and separate contracts will be issued for towing large trucks.