NYC NOW Special Investigation: How New York City Lost Control of the Tow Truck Industry
Feb 11, 2026
Liam Quigley, an investigative reporter who covers NYC issues, breaks down the rise of unlicensed tow trucks and why regulation failed. He outlines how these operators find crashes, the policy shifts that helped them grow, and the real dangers they pose. Tips on spotting legal versus shady rigs are described in clear, short scenes.
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Victim Shot During Tow Truck Dispute
- Susie Delgado described being shot during a fight between rival tow truck groups after her parked car was hit by a racer.
- The dispute over who would tow her car escalated into gunfire and left her with a lasting injury and financial hardship.
Why Police Use Approved Tow Lists
- The city uses a decades-old system where police call from an approved list to stop tow truck chasing.
- The system was designed after deadly crashes caused by licensed and unlicensed chasers racing to wrecks in the 1980s–90s.
Data Reveals Explosive Growth In Rogue Trucks
- Quigley matched DMV tow-plate data with speed and red-light camera records to quantify unlicensed trucks.
- Camera captures rose from 54 unlicensed trucks in 2021 to over 700 by the end of last year, showing rapid growth.