Provo City Councilman Steve Turley wants to change that.

Turley proposes altering Provo's oft-tweaked towing ordinance to require the city to contract only with towing companies with storage yards located inside city limits.

Orem and Springville have similar laws.

"It's wise policy," Turley said.

Provo currently contracts with 24 towing companies, which rotate in their response to accident scenes or other incidents requiring towing.

Twenty of those 24 have lots in Provo. The remaining four have lots in Springville (three) and Orem (one).

If approved by the City Council, Turley's proposal essentially would cut off the four towing businesses with lots outside Provo or require them to find towing yards within city limits.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed change at its Jan. 3 meeting.

"I like the idea that we keep our business in Provo," Councilwoman Midge Johnson said. It "makes sense to me."

At this time, Provo adheres to state provisions that limit cars to be towed 10 miles from the location they are picked up. Such a radius from points in Provo would allow towing to lots as far away as Spanish Fork and American Fork under the current ordinance.

Provo Police Capt. Lee Upchurch says changing the ordinance would not hinder police operations and that police priority is simply getting a towing company on scene as fast as possible for safety purposes.

"It certainly would be convenient in the arena of customer service," Upchurch added.

thollingshead@sltrib.com