STAUNTON, Va -- What city council decided about large trucks is not going to make it any easier to be a tow truck driver. The council voted to raise the weight limit of trucks that are allowed to park at houses. The limit changed from 13,000 pounds to 16,000 pounds. That limit does not help tow truck drivers, since their trucks weigh well over 16,000 pounds.

The reason for that is so they can make the 10 minute response time set by Staunton Police.

Officials said that tow trucks have never been allowed to be parked in residential areas, but the rule is only enforced if a neighbor complains.

After last night's vote, towing companies concerned about not being able to respond quickly enough say they are just going to have to make it work.

“We'll probably get together with the police department and some of the council, have a meeting and see what we can do on the response times. Quick clearance is a thing now. Even the Federal Government is getting into that,” Ray Drumheller, owner of Drumheller Towing and Recovery.

Drumheller said they are looking for a location where they can park the trucks that is not too far away, perhaps in Augusta County.

The new 16,000 pound weight limit was put in place for over sized pick-up trucks that were not common when the regulation was written about 40 years ago.

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