Towing Increasing in the Bakken | Video

Chris Williams | 12/19/2012

Williston Police have their hands full, trying to keep up with the growing city. They can now add one more item to their list of things to do, marking abandoned cars, so tow trucks can take them off of the streets.

Mark Chaney Sr. moved to Williston in 1982, and opened his towing company shortly after.

"When I first opened business, we used to walk around town with flyers where we would do 10 dollar lube oil and filters, and make a couple bucks."

He doesn`t have to hand out flyers anymore, the business comes to him. Police are receiving more calls of abandoned cars. To get rid of them police have to call tow trucks to come pick the cars up.

"Everyday probably. Everyday probably 2-3 times a day. You never know what`s on that phone on the other end," Chaney added.

Chaney says the abandoned cars are most likely a result of cars breaking down, and it`s too expensive to repair, and the car owner doesn`t want to pay for a tow. That leaves the towing company in a bind.

"I bet you I`ve lost this year about 30 grand at least."

The abandoned cars sit in a parking lot, until they`re crushed. Chaney says his company has gone from impounding one to two cars a month to five to six a week. To keep up with the growth the company has had to expand.

"I went from a one ton truck to four trucks, and we`re in the market right now for another one. I`m doubling the size of my work area. We`re adding on the side our are building," Chaney added.

They`ve also upgraded the size of their trucks to be able to haul the vehicles oil companies are using.

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