Rogue towies under microscope

INTIMIDATORY tow-truck drivers may be made personally liable for mistreating drivers and their cars.

Former District Court Judge Michael Forde, who famously cross-examined Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen during the Fitzgerald inquiry, was yesterday named as the head of a forensic investigation into the industry as the Government moves to crack down on rogue operators. He will read through hundreds of complaints logged by the public on a special hotline, take public submissions and question industry insiders, during his three-month investigation.

Mr Forde said companies were likely to be already breaking criminal and common law by threatening drivers and damaging their cars. But he said there was a lot of grey area that needed to be resolved.

“The difficulty is the cost of retrieving moneys from companies and it may be that we are going to look at individuals being individually responsible and lifting the corporate veil,” he said. “The tow-truck driver may be liable and those that govern the tow-truck driver may also be liable for aiding and abetting that ... conduct.”