Wednesday, November 17, 2010Sad News From TX
Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 38-year-old George Soriano who died yesterday in a tragic accident. Here's the story from the Houston Chronicle:
Federal officials are investigating the death of a tow truck driver at a FedEx distribution center in south Houston.
The wrecker driver, 38, was killed shortly after 2 p.m. at the building in the 2700 block of Holly Hall, Houston police said.
The driver, identified by a family member at the scene as George Soriano, was towing a disabled FedEx delivery truck to the center when he was killed.
"It appears to be a tragic accident," FedEx spokesman Jim McCluskey said from the company’s Memphis headquarters.
FedEx officials offered condolences to the family and said they were cooperating with officials.
Soriano had four children by his first wife and three more with his second wife - of which two were his stepchildren, said his father-in-law Gilbert Lopez.
Soriano had been working with his father-in-law at another company with a Houston Safe Clear towing contract but recently joined another company because he was concerned about towing cars on busy highways.
"He called and said, ‘I don’t think I can handle it over there,’" Lopez said.
An investigator with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was at the scene. OSHA officials later Tuesday could not be reached for comment.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Houston City Council members are weighing the future of Safe Clear
Houston City Council members are weighing the future of Safe Clear
HOUSTON – Houston City Council members are weighing the future of Safe Clear, the controversial towing program that was one of former Mayor Bill White’s most highly touted projects.
According to a Houston Police Department budget presentation earlier this week, the program was almost $1.5 million over budget during the 2010 fiscal year and projected to be even more expensive during the 2011 fiscal year.
Without council action, the city of Houston is projected to be $50 to $80 million in the red by the end of this fiscal year.
"In a time of deficit, why do we have Safe Clear?" asked Houston City Councilmember Jolanda Jones.
The city is now debating three options: Eliminating the program altogether, raising the highest fee wreckers charge for other tows by $12 to close the budget gap or transferring the entire program to Metro.
Safe Clear launched back in 2005 and was billed as a way to ease traffic along some of Houston’s most congested freeways. At first, drivers that broke down on the freeway were charged $75 to be towed to a nearby location where they could safely call for help, regardless of whether consent was given for the service.
After public protests, the $75 fee was eliminated. Instead, the city of Houston footed the bill and paid tow truck drivers $50 per tow.
Those “free” tows added up, and now cost the city and Metro more than $3 million a year.
"I think, even in tough budget times, you want to maintain safety," said George Greanias, Metro’s president and CEO.
Metro currently pays for the bulk of the program after council members capped the city’s payment in 2006.
Greanias said Safe Clear had reduced freeway traffic and prevented accidents, but he cautioned against having Metro bear the entire cost of the program.
"We don't want to simply embrace the city's budget issue and take it on as one of ours, given our challenges already," Greanias said.
If Safe Clear was transferred completely to Metro, HPD said that would free up 14 officers to return to regular police duties. But the city would have to find another way to pay their salaries.
It’s unclear when council will vote on any of the options.
But many tow truck drivers say they would be happy to see it go.
Jerry Aguilar works for Superior Wrecker Service, a business that’s been around Houston for 20 years. The company was not among the few chosen for the Safe Clear program.
When you cut our business in half like that, guys lost jobs,” Aguilar said. “From ten trucks down to four? That's a lot of money you're losing."
Aguilar dismisses the argument that Safe Clear has cut down on tow truck drivers speeding to accident scenes. He said now he’s forced to ignore stranded motorists on the freeway who need help rather than risk getting a fine.
"I say we need to do without (Safe Clear),” Aguilar said. "It's not fair to the citizens at all."
Towing on the Net
Towing on the Net
The Internet has grown significantly in the last several years. Almost all businesses today use email for everyday correspondence. It is being used in the towing industry by motorclubs and towers alike. The motorclubs dispatch calls and accept claims over the Internet. Many towers are using it to send pages to drivers, to track their truck locations, and in some cases they have even virtually eliminated the radio by using two-way pages or Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs). The next generation of towing software promises an even greater integration with the Internet.
This trend is likely to continue because of the dramatic cost savings that can be realized using the Internet. Motorclub calls now take less than 3 minutes from start to finish using Digital Dispatch. Whereas before, using the phone, a call could take 5-10 minutes. These few minutes add up to tremendous savings for both motorclubs and service providers.
You can even locate a service provider online using sites like www.wrecker.com. The call can then be sent via email, fax, phone, and using digital dispatch like the motorclubs.
The next generation of towing software and management systems promises to be completely integrated with the Internet. You will no longer have to have an expensive, high-powered server networked with several fast workstations to run your towing software. Furthermore these networks require a true computer geek to keep them fine-tuned and running. Backups will be a thing of the past. Access from home is presently complex and slow. This too will no longer be a problem with the newer towing software packages. An Application Service Provider (ASP) will run these packages from a central location. These new solutions can be accessed from anywhere with your security code and an Internet connection (office, home, motel room, etc).
When it comes to Internet connections you have many affordable choices today. The table below lists the common types available:
Connection Type
Expected Speed
Typical Cost
Service Providers Dial-up
28.8 ' 53kbs*
$0-25/month
AOL, AT&T, Earthlink, MSN, CoreComm, MCI,etc.
ISDN
64kbs or 128kbs
$40-70/month
Earthlink, MSN, Telocity, AT&T, MCI, etc.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
128 - 1544Kbs
$40-300/month
Earthlink, MSN, Telocity, AT&T, MCI, etc.
Cable
56 - 1544kbs
$40-70/month
Time Warner, Adelphi, CableVision, etc
Satellite (2-way)
150 - 500kbs
$40-70/month
Starband, MSN, DishNetwork, DirectPC/DirectTV, etc.
Frame Relay
56 - 1544kbs
$200-1500/month
Ameritech, GTE, MCI, AT&T, etc.
Fractional ' Full T1
128 - 1544kbs
$250-1500/month
Ameritech, GTE, MCI, AT&T, etc.
* 53kbs is the maximum allowed by the FCC. So even if you have a 56Kbs modem it cannot connect faster than 53kbs.
The connection speed you choose depends on your budget and what you need to do on the Internet. Internet (email) paging and Digital Dispatch do not need a very fast connection. A simple dial-up connection will provide enough speed, but it is not very reliable. You may want to choose one of the other connection types. IDSL, Cable, Satellite, Frame Relay and T1 all stay connected full time. This means they do not need to 'dial out' to establish an Internet connection; they are always connected just like a workstation on your Local Area Network (LAN). After all, the Internet is nothing but a big LAN.
This is the premise behind the next generation of towing software. The application will be run from a secure server farm (several servers working together) and each towing company will just be a user on the network. Therefore you will only need a low cost computer, a security code and access to the Internet. The set-up time will be a matter of minutes instead of weeks. The average person can setup the computer and download the software instead of having to pay the high costs of flying in a technician. Most users will be able to follow the onscreen instructions and will not require weeks of training. However, training will probably still be required for the more advanced features. Addionally, there will be little or no maintenance costs. You will simply pay a monthly fee in addition to your regular Internet costs. These types of solutions should save the average company thousands dollars each year; not to mention the many headaches associated with running your own internal network (e.g. hard drive crashes, failed backups).
I spoke with a company owner last week about a major system crash. He lost an entire year's worth of data and did not have a good backup. His backup failed due to the fact that his backup software was unable to backup his data while the towing software was running. Since they are running a 24/7 operation, they just didn't have the time to shut down the towing software to run the backup. He thought it was backing up but his tapes were blank. Has this ever happened to you? This type of problem will not happen in the future because the ASP (Application Service Provider) handles technical issues, such as backups, behind the scenes.
Now let's talk about some of the present ways people are using the Internet in their towing business.
Paging is probably the most common task being done through the Internet. Any company that has a full time connection to the Internet can utilize email paging. To send a page: you can go to your paging company's web site or if your towing software is Internet enabled, you can send a page from within your program. Some software packages even offer two-way paging, but this requires you use expensive 2-way pagers for all your drivers. Email paging may be faster than standard dial-up paging, it all depends on your paging company. Many towing companies use email paging as a backup to their dial-up paging, because if a paging company's dial-up sever goes down, it probably will not affect their email paging server ' so you can send your pages using email. This too is dependant on your particular paging company. There are new technologies, such as Simple Network Paging Protocol (SNPP), that will enable your software to detect when a page has been received by your driver using standard low cost pagers.
This capability is already available if you have CDPD mobile data terminals. These systems use the Digital Cellular and the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) networks to provide two-way communication as well as truck location and speed. They utilize the Internet to send/receive data (messages) to/from your trucks. @road and Airlink Communications are two of the major players in this type of technology. For a monthly fee @road allows you to completely monitor and configure your MDT from their web site. They even give you an interactive online map to show your truck present and past truck locations. Airlink on the other hand does not charge you a monthly access fee, because the maps reside on your local server. You need to decide which solution works best for your needs.
Digital Dispatch is used by some motorclubs to send calls to service providers using the Internet. In the future you will even be able to submit your invoices to the motorclubs using this technology. This is because many of the motorclubs and towing software vendors have been working together to establish a standard protocol for sending calls and submitting invoices. Presently, a couple of the software vendors have the ability to directly receive calls from GE, which means the call appears on your dispatch screen. The other software vendors and motorclubs are working on similar solutions. The Internet solution from the other motorclubs requires you keep your browser pointed to their web site. When a call comes in you need to print it and then type it into your towing management software.
Several of the motorclubs also offer the service providers a way to submit their invoices online from their website. However, Digital Dispatch promises a much easier and automated solution in the future.
The Internet offers a benefit for every size towing company by using one or more of the following technologies: Digital Dispatch, paging, GPS/MDT, or submitting invoices to motorclubs. The next generation (ASP) towing management systems promises to deliver solutions that are much easier to use, more integrated with the Internet and utilize all of the present technologies as well as a few new technologies, such as Instant Messaging and Internet enabled cell phones.
I neglected to answer an important question that is probably on your minds ' Is it safe? They simple answer is, Yes. In fact it safer than your telephone, since much of the data sent is encrypted. I will save this topic as well as remote access to your software using Microsoft's Terminal Services for a future article on Internet technologies.
About the author: Todd Althouse is a Managing Partner of Beacon Software, LLC - an Internet Application development company specializing in towing software and fleet management software. Visit http://www.beaconsoftco.com for more information.
The Internet has grown significantly in the last several years. Almost all businesses today use email for everyday correspondence. It is being used in the towing industry by motorclubs and towers alike. The motorclubs dispatch calls and accept claims over the Internet. Many towers are using it to send pages to drivers, to track their truck locations, and in some cases they have even virtually eliminated the radio by using two-way pages or Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs). The next generation of towing software promises an even greater integration with the Internet.
This trend is likely to continue because of the dramatic cost savings that can be realized using the Internet. Motorclub calls now take less than 3 minutes from start to finish using Digital Dispatch. Whereas before, using the phone, a call could take 5-10 minutes. These few minutes add up to tremendous savings for both motorclubs and service providers.
You can even locate a service provider online using sites like www.wrecker.com. The call can then be sent via email, fax, phone, and using digital dispatch like the motorclubs.
The next generation of towing software and management systems promises to be completely integrated with the Internet. You will no longer have to have an expensive, high-powered server networked with several fast workstations to run your towing software. Furthermore these networks require a true computer geek to keep them fine-tuned and running. Backups will be a thing of the past. Access from home is presently complex and slow. This too will no longer be a problem with the newer towing software packages. An Application Service Provider (ASP) will run these packages from a central location. These new solutions can be accessed from anywhere with your security code and an Internet connection (office, home, motel room, etc).
When it comes to Internet connections you have many affordable choices today. The table below lists the common types available:
Connection Type
Expected Speed
Typical Cost
Service Providers Dial-up
28.8 ' 53kbs*
$0-25/month
AOL, AT&T, Earthlink, MSN, CoreComm, MCI,etc.
ISDN
64kbs or 128kbs
$40-70/month
Earthlink, MSN, Telocity, AT&T, MCI, etc.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
128 - 1544Kbs
$40-300/month
Earthlink, MSN, Telocity, AT&T, MCI, etc.
Cable
56 - 1544kbs
$40-70/month
Time Warner, Adelphi, CableVision, etc
Satellite (2-way)
150 - 500kbs
$40-70/month
Starband, MSN, DishNetwork, DirectPC/DirectTV, etc.
Frame Relay
56 - 1544kbs
$200-1500/month
Ameritech, GTE, MCI, AT&T, etc.
Fractional ' Full T1
128 - 1544kbs
$250-1500/month
Ameritech, GTE, MCI, AT&T, etc.
* 53kbs is the maximum allowed by the FCC. So even if you have a 56Kbs modem it cannot connect faster than 53kbs.
The connection speed you choose depends on your budget and what you need to do on the Internet. Internet (email) paging and Digital Dispatch do not need a very fast connection. A simple dial-up connection will provide enough speed, but it is not very reliable. You may want to choose one of the other connection types. IDSL, Cable, Satellite, Frame Relay and T1 all stay connected full time. This means they do not need to 'dial out' to establish an Internet connection; they are always connected just like a workstation on your Local Area Network (LAN). After all, the Internet is nothing but a big LAN.
This is the premise behind the next generation of towing software. The application will be run from a secure server farm (several servers working together) and each towing company will just be a user on the network. Therefore you will only need a low cost computer, a security code and access to the Internet. The set-up time will be a matter of minutes instead of weeks. The average person can setup the computer and download the software instead of having to pay the high costs of flying in a technician. Most users will be able to follow the onscreen instructions and will not require weeks of training. However, training will probably still be required for the more advanced features. Addionally, there will be little or no maintenance costs. You will simply pay a monthly fee in addition to your regular Internet costs. These types of solutions should save the average company thousands dollars each year; not to mention the many headaches associated with running your own internal network (e.g. hard drive crashes, failed backups).
I spoke with a company owner last week about a major system crash. He lost an entire year's worth of data and did not have a good backup. His backup failed due to the fact that his backup software was unable to backup his data while the towing software was running. Since they are running a 24/7 operation, they just didn't have the time to shut down the towing software to run the backup. He thought it was backing up but his tapes were blank. Has this ever happened to you? This type of problem will not happen in the future because the ASP (Application Service Provider) handles technical issues, such as backups, behind the scenes.
Now let's talk about some of the present ways people are using the Internet in their towing business.
Paging is probably the most common task being done through the Internet. Any company that has a full time connection to the Internet can utilize email paging. To send a page: you can go to your paging company's web site or if your towing software is Internet enabled, you can send a page from within your program. Some software packages even offer two-way paging, but this requires you use expensive 2-way pagers for all your drivers. Email paging may be faster than standard dial-up paging, it all depends on your paging company. Many towing companies use email paging as a backup to their dial-up paging, because if a paging company's dial-up sever goes down, it probably will not affect their email paging server ' so you can send your pages using email. This too is dependant on your particular paging company. There are new technologies, such as Simple Network Paging Protocol (SNPP), that will enable your software to detect when a page has been received by your driver using standard low cost pagers.
This capability is already available if you have CDPD mobile data terminals. These systems use the Digital Cellular and the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) networks to provide two-way communication as well as truck location and speed. They utilize the Internet to send/receive data (messages) to/from your trucks. @road and Airlink Communications are two of the major players in this type of technology. For a monthly fee @road allows you to completely monitor and configure your MDT from their web site. They even give you an interactive online map to show your truck present and past truck locations. Airlink on the other hand does not charge you a monthly access fee, because the maps reside on your local server. You need to decide which solution works best for your needs.
Digital Dispatch is used by some motorclubs to send calls to service providers using the Internet. In the future you will even be able to submit your invoices to the motorclubs using this technology. This is because many of the motorclubs and towing software vendors have been working together to establish a standard protocol for sending calls and submitting invoices. Presently, a couple of the software vendors have the ability to directly receive calls from GE, which means the call appears on your dispatch screen. The other software vendors and motorclubs are working on similar solutions. The Internet solution from the other motorclubs requires you keep your browser pointed to their web site. When a call comes in you need to print it and then type it into your towing management software.
Several of the motorclubs also offer the service providers a way to submit their invoices online from their website. However, Digital Dispatch promises a much easier and automated solution in the future.
The Internet offers a benefit for every size towing company by using one or more of the following technologies: Digital Dispatch, paging, GPS/MDT, or submitting invoices to motorclubs. The next generation (ASP) towing management systems promises to deliver solutions that are much easier to use, more integrated with the Internet and utilize all of the present technologies as well as a few new technologies, such as Instant Messaging and Internet enabled cell phones.
I neglected to answer an important question that is probably on your minds ' Is it safe? They simple answer is, Yes. In fact it safer than your telephone, since much of the data sent is encrypted. I will save this topic as well as remote access to your software using Microsoft's Terminal Services for a future article on Internet technologies.
About the author: Todd Althouse is a Managing Partner of Beacon Software, LLC - an Internet Application development company specializing in towing software and fleet management software. Visit http://www.beaconsoftco.com for more information.
Rochester police want to hear wrecker service experiences
Rochester police want to hear wrecker service experiences
Monday, November 15, 2010
ROCHESTER — The Police Department is soliciting feedback from residents who had contact with a wrecker service through contacts with the police department or other city services.
Capt. Paul Callaghan said the time of year where the city considers bids for towing services is approaching, and at the request of City Manager John Scruton, the department wants to hear from residents who have recently dealt with these services.
"We're doing our due diligence," Callaghan said.
Residents are asked to contact Capt. Scott Dumas at 330-7145.
Monday, November 15, 2010
ROCHESTER — The Police Department is soliciting feedback from residents who had contact with a wrecker service through contacts with the police department or other city services.
Capt. Paul Callaghan said the time of year where the city considers bids for towing services is approaching, and at the request of City Manager John Scruton, the department wants to hear from residents who have recently dealt with these services.
"We're doing our due diligence," Callaghan said.
Residents are asked to contact Capt. Scott Dumas at 330-7145.
Monday, November 8, 2010
No insurance...police will impound your car.
No insurance...police will impound your car.
Great idea! There are way too many people driving without insurance...................
__________________________________________________ ___________________________
TULSA - The law took effect just four days ago, and already some drivers have lost their cars.
Officials are making it very clear that they won't hesitate to tow a vehicle if it means making the roads safer for everyone else.
"If you're out here driving without insurance you better think again, we're towing vehicles," says Trooper George Brown.
OHP towed its first car in the Tulsa area on Thursday. Trooper Brown says he thinks they'll be towing many more.
"This is proof that people are driving around out there without insurance," Brown said.
Since Monday, Tulsa Police say they've towed six vehicles for not having insurance. Storey Wrecker says they've been pretty busy. The law is also creating a buzz among customers of A-Affordable Insurance.
"Some of them are making sure their verification is up to date and we've had lines of people coming in making their payments on their insurance, I think it's just making people aware to keep it up to date," says owner Less Lieurance.
It's also bringing in new clients. Lieurance says the company has filled out a lot more applications for car insurance this week as people realize how much extra trouble it will be if they are caught without it.
"You really can't afford not to have it. I mean what will it cost to have your car impounded? What would it really have to cost you to go to court because you didn't have insurance on your vehicle," he said.
While towing may be a harsh punishment, Lieurance says anything that helps motivate people to have insurance is a good idea.
If your car is towed you'll need to show proof of insurance before you can get it back. Drivers have 45 days to pick up their vehicle before it is sold at auction.
Great idea! There are way too many people driving without insurance...................
__________________________________________________ ___________________________
TULSA - The law took effect just four days ago, and already some drivers have lost their cars.
Officials are making it very clear that they won't hesitate to tow a vehicle if it means making the roads safer for everyone else.
"If you're out here driving without insurance you better think again, we're towing vehicles," says Trooper George Brown.
OHP towed its first car in the Tulsa area on Thursday. Trooper Brown says he thinks they'll be towing many more.
"This is proof that people are driving around out there without insurance," Brown said.
Since Monday, Tulsa Police say they've towed six vehicles for not having insurance. Storey Wrecker says they've been pretty busy. The law is also creating a buzz among customers of A-Affordable Insurance.
"Some of them are making sure their verification is up to date and we've had lines of people coming in making their payments on their insurance, I think it's just making people aware to keep it up to date," says owner Less Lieurance.
It's also bringing in new clients. Lieurance says the company has filled out a lot more applications for car insurance this week as people realize how much extra trouble it will be if they are caught without it.
"You really can't afford not to have it. I mean what will it cost to have your car impounded? What would it really have to cost you to go to court because you didn't have insurance on your vehicle," he said.
While towing may be a harsh punishment, Lieurance says anything that helps motivate people to have insurance is a good idea.
If your car is towed you'll need to show proof of insurance before you can get it back. Drivers have 45 days to pick up their vehicle before it is sold at auction.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Critics: Licensing fees that can drive smaller wreckers out of business
The industry used to be a relatively unregulated process of hook ‘em up and haul ‘em out. But that began to unravel the night a Northern Virginia lawyer’s car was towed from a private lot with a warning sign obscured by tall bushes.
Angered, he pored through state law to find that nothing covered hidden signs, or much else. So, he fired off a letter of disgust and legal insight to a state senator.
“It turns out ... it’s a hot topic with a lot of people,” former senator Jay O’Brien, of Clifton, said of the furor that followed.
For the two years after he received the letter, O’Brien’s life was a mosaic of research, public meetings and rewording state code.
Now, tow truck operators throughout Virginia must have a license to haul cars from accidents, private lots or breakdowns. Simply put, if the tow operator gets paid for the haul, then he needs to be licensed. Additionally, individual drivers must obtain tow truck driver authorization documents.
The tow truck operator also must put a licensing sticker on every truck.
Those regulations, and the operations of tow companies, are governed by a new state body, the Board of Towing and Recovery Operators. Created in 2006, the board is tasked with dispensing the operator’s licenses, tow driver’s authorizations and truck stickers; testing operators on the laws of the profession, a requirement for all new drivers; rummaging through criminal backgrounds; and fielding customer complaints.
“It’s an innocent thing that turned into something much bigger than I thought,” O’Brien said.
Like it or leave it
Roger Blevins, of Rogers Towing in Marion, needed a minute to think when asked how the new licensing laws have affected his profession. He hemmed and hawed as he weighed the drawbacks against the benefits.
On the negative side, he said, the licenses are pricey enough to bankrupt small companies.
“There was a couple of people … that it could put them under in time,” Blevins said of the licensing requirement, which began July 1, 2009.
That first year, the board authorized 1,474 operator’s licenses, approved 4,548 tow driver’s authorizations, and affixed decals to 4,275 trucks, according to the board’s 2009 annual report.
The operator’s licenses must be bought annually and run from $250 to $500 a company, depending on the number of trucks owned and their weight.
The individual tow driver’s authorizations cost $87 a year. The application comes with a $37 fee for a criminal background check. Additionally, every truck must sport a new licensing decal each year, costing $10 each. An extra $50 is added if the business owns three or more trucks, depending on the vehicle’s weight.
In its first year, the application and decal fees generated $1.12 million in revenue, according to the board’s 2009 annual report.
Before the licensing laws kicked in, wrecker companies only had to register their trucks each year with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
That’s still necessary, on top of the licensing.
Annual registration fees run from $80 to $1,328 a truck, depending on the weight of the tow truck and the average estimated weight of vehicles towed. There also is an annual $10 a truck bulk carrier fee going to the Virginia Operating Authority, which allows the truck to haul in the state.
Blevins also saw a silver lining in the expense incurred on his company by the new towing board – he had to expand his business to cover the fees.
“If anything, it probably helped my business because it convinced me to get on the state police [emergency dispatch] list and to join motor clubs,” Blevins said.
Not every tow operator could envision a positive spin.
Retired tow operator Dave Thomas, of auto repair company Marion Frame and Alignment, quit the wrecker business two weeks after the licensing law began.
“If you’ve been doing something for 26 years, and have been doing things the same way, would you want someone to come along and say you’ve got to have a license?” he said.
Thomas tried to tow wrecked cars without a license, but the towing board ordered him to stop, and had the sheriff’s department remove his company from the 911 rotation list.
Shock over the licensing requirements also erupted from the industry’s sidelines, where retired tow operators are voicing an opinion.
David Pickle, of David’s Auto Repair in Rural Retreat, misses the new faces he met and adventures he enjoyed during his nearly 20 years as a tow operator before retiring in 2003.
He’d consider jumping back in but, like Thomas, fears it’s a case of an old dog learning new tricks.
“I think it would be too much regulations to comply with,” Pickle said.
Still off the radar
Public safety tows, where vehicles are pulled from wrecks or other incidents involving police, are among the few areas left untouched by both the towing board and state law.
The issue is still left to local laws and police policies.
Smyth County, for example, doles the tow calls to wrecker companies based on a rotation list regulated by sheriff’s department policy.
In nearby Wytheville, the rotation list is controlled by a recently enacted ordinance that offers public safety calls to companies inside the town limits before looking to companies in the surrounding county.
Town officials created the new ordinance as an attempt to provide priority status to its in-town businesses while also whittling away at the time spent waiting for a wrecker.
“To have an officer on the side of the road waiting for 20 minutes was just too long,” Town Manager Wayne Sutherland said.
Initially, O’Brien’s state legislation mandated that the towing board decide which companies could answer 911 requests. Regulations were to be based mainly on the equipment in a company’s inventory.
But tow operators argued that the need for costly equipment could differ according to geography, population or whether the wreck is on a mountain road or in a big city.
“There was a view held by many that this particular regulation would be very onerous ... to the mom-and-pops and the one- and two-truck businesses,” board Executive Director Marc Copeland said.
In 2009, O’Brien’s law was changed to prohibit the board from regulating public safety calls.
O’Brien, who left the Virginia General Assembly in 2007, did not know his provision on the public safety tow had been repealed until told by a reporter.
Still, he said, the connection between tow operators and emergency calls is a strong one.
“People often think of the first responder [as] the police, and the rescue squads,” O’Brien said. “But the tow operator sees it all, and has nightmares from it.”
Mandatory fees
To operate a tow truck business, the state requires:
Tow operator’s business license: $250-$500.
Tow truck driver authorization (each driver): $87.
Criminal background check (each driver): $37.
Authorization stickers (each truck): $10, with an extra $50 for an operator with three or more trucks.
Motor vehicle registration (each truck): $80 to $1,328.
Bulk carrier fee (each truck): $10.
mowens@bristolnews.com
(276) 645-2549
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Sort newest to oldest +0-0CLEARPosted by shuzee on Oct. 25, 2010 - 8:43 a.m.
This whole series of articles is just BHC Trivia because BHC isn't intelligent enough to write about pertinent subjects.
What a waste of space, ink, time,- but, I guess that's what we get from a newspaper (loosely) with little horsepower...
Why don't you build a REAL newspaper?
Just another way for big brother to step in and control something that obviously became profitable for the government.
$250 to $500 -- for Business License is a % of the Profits -- if your not making at least $25,000 a year Towing then your costing the people who are actually in Business money .
Forcing retired people out of the business is a good idea if they are not in business just towing vechiles for a little extra cash on the side .
The industry used to be a relatively unregulated process of hook ‘em up and haul ‘em out. But that began to unravel the night a Northern Virginia lawyer’s car was towed from a private lot with a warning sign obscured by tall bushes.
Angered, he pored through state law to find that nothing covered hidden signs, or much else. So, he fired off a letter of disgust and legal insight to a state senator.
“It turns out ... it’s a hot topic with a lot of people,” former senator Jay O’Brien, of Clifton, said of the furor that followed.
For the two years after he received the letter, O’Brien’s life was a mosaic of research, public meetings and rewording state code.
Now, tow truck operators throughout Virginia must have a license to haul cars from accidents, private lots or breakdowns. Simply put, if the tow operator gets paid for the haul, then he needs to be licensed. Additionally, individual drivers must obtain tow truck driver authorization documents.
The tow truck operator also must put a licensing sticker on every truck.
Those regulations, and the operations of tow companies, are governed by a new state body, the Board of Towing and Recovery Operators. Created in 2006, the board is tasked with dispensing the operator’s licenses, tow driver’s authorizations and truck stickers; testing operators on the laws of the profession, a requirement for all new drivers; rummaging through criminal backgrounds; and fielding customer complaints.
“It’s an innocent thing that turned into something much bigger than I thought,” O’Brien said.
Like it or leave it
Roger Blevins, of Rogers Towing in Marion, needed a minute to think when asked how the new licensing laws have affected his profession. He hemmed and hawed as he weighed the drawbacks against the benefits.
On the negative side, he said, the licenses are pricey enough to bankrupt small companies.
“There was a couple of people … that it could put them under in time,” Blevins said of the licensing requirement, which began July 1, 2009.
That first year, the board authorized 1,474 operator’s licenses, approved 4,548 tow driver’s authorizations, and affixed decals to 4,275 trucks, according to the board’s 2009 annual report.
The operator’s licenses must be bought annually and run from $250 to $500 a company, depending on the number of trucks owned and their weight.
The individual tow driver’s authorizations cost $87 a year. The application comes with a $37 fee for a criminal background check. Additionally, every truck must sport a new licensing decal each year, costing $10 each. An extra $50 is added if the business owns three or more trucks, depending on the vehicle’s weight.
In its first year, the application and decal fees generated $1.12 million in revenue, according to the board’s 2009 annual report.
Before the licensing laws kicked in, wrecker companies only had to register their trucks each year with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
That’s still necessary, on top of the licensing.
Annual registration fees run from $80 to $1,328 a truck, depending on the weight of the tow truck and the average estimated weight of vehicles towed. There also is an annual $10 a truck bulk carrier fee going to the Virginia Operating Authority, which allows the truck to haul in the state.
Blevins also saw a silver lining in the expense incurred on his company by the new towing board – he had to expand his business to cover the fees.
“If anything, it probably helped my business because it convinced me to get on the state police [emergency dispatch] list and to join motor clubs,” Blevins said.
Not every tow operator could envision a positive spin.
Retired tow operator Dave Thomas, of auto repair company Marion Frame and Alignment, quit the wrecker business two weeks after the licensing law began.
“If you’ve been doing something for 26 years, and have been doing things the same way, would you want someone to come along and say you’ve got to have a license?” he said.
Thomas tried to tow wrecked cars without a license, but the towing board ordered him to stop, and had the sheriff’s department remove his company from the 911 rotation list.
Shock over the licensing requirements also erupted from the industry’s sidelines, where retired tow operators are voicing an opinion.
David Pickle, of David’s Auto Repair in Rural Retreat, misses the new faces he met and adventures he enjoyed during his nearly 20 years as a tow operator before retiring in 2003.
He’d consider jumping back in but, like Thomas, fears it’s a case of an old dog learning new tricks.
“I think it would be too much regulations to comply with,” Pickle said.
Still off the radar
Public safety tows, where vehicles are pulled from wrecks or other incidents involving police, are among the few areas left untouched by both the towing board and state law.
The issue is still left to local laws and police policies.
Smyth County, for example, doles the tow calls to wrecker companies based on a rotation list regulated by sheriff’s department policy.
In nearby Wytheville, the rotation list is controlled by a recently enacted ordinance that offers public safety calls to companies inside the town limits before looking to companies in the surrounding county.
Town officials created the new ordinance as an attempt to provide priority status to its in-town businesses while also whittling away at the time spent waiting for a wrecker.
“To have an officer on the side of the road waiting for 20 minutes was just too long,” Town Manager Wayne Sutherland said.
Initially, O’Brien’s state legislation mandated that the towing board decide which companies could answer 911 requests. Regulations were to be based mainly on the equipment in a company’s inventory.
But tow operators argued that the need for costly equipment could differ according to geography, population or whether the wreck is on a mountain road or in a big city.
“There was a view held by many that this particular regulation would be very onerous ... to the mom-and-pops and the one- and two-truck businesses,” board Executive Director Marc Copeland said.
In 2009, O’Brien’s law was changed to prohibit the board from regulating public safety calls.
O’Brien, who left the Virginia General Assembly in 2007, did not know his provision on the public safety tow had been repealed until told by a reporter.
Still, he said, the connection between tow operators and emergency calls is a strong one.
“People often think of the first responder [as] the police, and the rescue squads,” O’Brien said. “But the tow operator sees it all, and has nightmares from it.”
Mandatory fees
To operate a tow truck business, the state requires:
Tow operator’s business license: $250-$500.
Tow truck driver authorization (each driver): $87.
Criminal background check (each driver): $37.
Authorization stickers (each truck): $10, with an extra $50 for an operator with three or more trucks.
Motor vehicle registration (each truck): $80 to $1,328.
Bulk carrier fee (each truck): $10.
mowens@bristolnews.com
(276) 645-2549
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Sort newest to oldest +0-0CLEARPosted by shuzee on Oct. 25, 2010 - 8:43 a.m.
This whole series of articles is just BHC Trivia because BHC isn't intelligent enough to write about pertinent subjects.
What a waste of space, ink, time,- but, I guess that's what we get from a newspaper (loosely) with little horsepower...
Why don't you build a REAL newspaper?
Just another way for big brother to step in and control something that obviously became profitable for the government.
$250 to $500 -- for Business License is a % of the Profits -- if your not making at least $25,000 a year Towing then your costing the people who are actually in Business money .
Forcing retired people out of the business is a good idea if they are not in business just towing vechiles for a little extra cash on the side .
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Towing companies sue Nacogdoches for interfering with business
Towing companies sue Nacogdoches for interfering with business
10/19/2010 11:15 AM By Michelle Massey, East Texas Bureau
LUFKIN-A Nacogdoches business is suing the city for improperly interfering with their business.
Randy Furra, individually and doing business as Randy Wrecker Service, and Roger McBride, individually and doing business as McBride Towing, filed suit against city of Nacogdoches on Oct. 1 in Nacogdoches County. The defendants removed the case to the federal Eastern District of Texas, Lufkin Division on Oct. 14.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs have been adversely affected by the city's new procedures regarding wrecker companies. Furra and McBride state that the city refused to "grandfather" in their companies and has since improperly refused to place them upon rotation with regard to non-consent tows.
The wrecker company owners state that the city has refused to allow them to charge for tows that are privately arranged and/or are on private property within the city limits.
When the city held the hearing on the proposed changes in procedures for towing within the city limits, Furra and McBride state they were not allowed to participate or be heard, in violation of their due process rights.
Further, the plaintiffs accuse argue the Nacogdoches Police Department has unlawfully and improperly harassed them by charging them with frivolous violations.
The plaintiffs are asking the judge to issue a temporary and permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from continuing the alleged improper conduct and for an award of damages for lost income, adverse impact upon businesses, lost business opportunity, attorney's fees, interest and court costs.
Furra and McBride are represented by Houston attorney Benton Musslewhite.
U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone is assigned to the case.
10/19/2010 11:15 AM By Michelle Massey, East Texas Bureau
LUFKIN-A Nacogdoches business is suing the city for improperly interfering with their business.
Randy Furra, individually and doing business as Randy Wrecker Service, and Roger McBride, individually and doing business as McBride Towing, filed suit against city of Nacogdoches on Oct. 1 in Nacogdoches County. The defendants removed the case to the federal Eastern District of Texas, Lufkin Division on Oct. 14.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs have been adversely affected by the city's new procedures regarding wrecker companies. Furra and McBride state that the city refused to "grandfather" in their companies and has since improperly refused to place them upon rotation with regard to non-consent tows.
The wrecker company owners state that the city has refused to allow them to charge for tows that are privately arranged and/or are on private property within the city limits.
When the city held the hearing on the proposed changes in procedures for towing within the city limits, Furra and McBride state they were not allowed to participate or be heard, in violation of their due process rights.
Further, the plaintiffs accuse argue the Nacogdoches Police Department has unlawfully and improperly harassed them by charging them with frivolous violations.
The plaintiffs are asking the judge to issue a temporary and permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from continuing the alleged improper conduct and for an award of damages for lost income, adverse impact upon businesses, lost business opportunity, attorney's fees, interest and court costs.
Furra and McBride are represented by Houston attorney Benton Musslewhite.
U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone is assigned to the case.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Towing service wants county to change to bid system
Towing service wants county to change to bid system
TERRE HAUTE — A Terre Haute company is asking the Vigo County Board of Commissioners to consider bidding out a contract between the county and towing companies.
“Towing companies and municipalities are both moving in the direction to form these relationships and contacts, and it is something we would like commissioners to consider,” Jason Durr of Durr’s Towing & Recovery told commissioners Tuesday.
“The industry is changing in many directions, including environmental and procedural guidelines that must be complied with. There are a variety of compliance issues that only affect those providing service to police agencies, separate from the general towing company issues,” Bob Durr of Durr’s Towing said in a letter given to the board.
“Virtually all police agencies use a contract to protect and benefit not only the towing companies, but also the county and agency itself from liability issues,” Bob Durr wrote.
Durr’s Towing already has a contract with Terre Haute’s Board of Public Works and Safety.
Sheriff Jon Marvel asked commissioners to have the county attorney review the addition of a county fee to such a contract that would be assessed to a driver’s insurance company. The fee would help pay for gasoline and maintenance costs of a deputy responding to an accident, the sheriff said.
Marvel said the fee is already implemented in Marion County and a few other large Indiana counties.
Under state law, the county must bid out a towing contract or have a rotation of towing companies, County Attorney Michael Wright said.
The sheriff currently uses a rotation of two companies — Durr’s and Peffley & Hinshaw — to tow vehicles. Durr’s is used for all vehicles north of Wabash Avenue and Peffley for all vehicles south of Wabash Avenue.
“I have no preference. However, with a contract, a dispatcher would not have to take time to look up where a vehicle is, either north or south … and simply call for a wrecker service,” Marvel said.
“Obviously the County Council is looking at everything, and with less money coming in from the state and federal government, this fee, that would be assessed to insurance companies, would help. I do not want our sheriff take-home vehicle program going away, so we have to find some way to keep that going,” Marvel said.
The sheriff said every driver, under state law, is required to have automobile insurance.
Commissioners took the issue under advisement pending a review from the county attorney
TERRE HAUTE — A Terre Haute company is asking the Vigo County Board of Commissioners to consider bidding out a contract between the county and towing companies.
“Towing companies and municipalities are both moving in the direction to form these relationships and contacts, and it is something we would like commissioners to consider,” Jason Durr of Durr’s Towing & Recovery told commissioners Tuesday.
“The industry is changing in many directions, including environmental and procedural guidelines that must be complied with. There are a variety of compliance issues that only affect those providing service to police agencies, separate from the general towing company issues,” Bob Durr of Durr’s Towing said in a letter given to the board.
“Virtually all police agencies use a contract to protect and benefit not only the towing companies, but also the county and agency itself from liability issues,” Bob Durr wrote.
Durr’s Towing already has a contract with Terre Haute’s Board of Public Works and Safety.
Sheriff Jon Marvel asked commissioners to have the county attorney review the addition of a county fee to such a contract that would be assessed to a driver’s insurance company. The fee would help pay for gasoline and maintenance costs of a deputy responding to an accident, the sheriff said.
Marvel said the fee is already implemented in Marion County and a few other large Indiana counties.
Under state law, the county must bid out a towing contract or have a rotation of towing companies, County Attorney Michael Wright said.
The sheriff currently uses a rotation of two companies — Durr’s and Peffley & Hinshaw — to tow vehicles. Durr’s is used for all vehicles north of Wabash Avenue and Peffley for all vehicles south of Wabash Avenue.
“I have no preference. However, with a contract, a dispatcher would not have to take time to look up where a vehicle is, either north or south … and simply call for a wrecker service,” Marvel said.
“Obviously the County Council is looking at everything, and with less money coming in from the state and federal government, this fee, that would be assessed to insurance companies, would help. I do not want our sheriff take-home vehicle program going away, so we have to find some way to keep that going,” Marvel said.
The sheriff said every driver, under state law, is required to have automobile insurance.
Commissioners took the issue under advisement pending a review from the county attorney
Friday, October 8, 2010
Towers Angry over New Contract
BOYNTON BEACH — City commissioners recently approved a three-year towing franchise agreement with two tow companies, which will bring in an extra $204,575 annually for Boynton Beach.
Beck's Towing & Recovery will pay the city $104,500 annually and Zuccala Wrecker Service will pay $100,075 to tow all of the disabled and illegally parked vehicles within the city limits.
In April, the commission approved moving forward with the bidding. The move seemed to assuage many tow companies, who felt that had been cut out of the city's business by the previous exclusive contract. The previous contract had six tow companies on rotation for calls, which was time-consuming for city staff. Both Beck's and Zuccala are in this rotation.
The city received bids from nine towing companies by the Aug. 3 deadline. A company could submit bids for a single tow-company agreement, a two-company agreement, and a three company agreement.
After reviewing bids, city staff recommended that the commission approve a three-year agreement with the two highest-ranked bidders for the two-vendor scenario. The agreement includes the option for the commission to renew it for two additional one-year periods.
Although the city could have brought in more money with the single-vendor scenario, which would have gone to Beck's Towing for $223,500, Lori LaVerriere, assistant city manager, said that staff decided that having two vendors would be in the best interest of residents.
Towing has been a controversial issue in Boynton Beach for many years. In 2008, Craig Goldstein, owner of Westway Towing, told investigators that former City Commissioner David Katz offered to lobby the commission on his behalf in exchange for $25,000.
Mayor José Rodriguez received campaign contributions from both of the tow companies chosen for the franchise agreement. He also received a contribution from one of the other seven companies that submitted bids - Emerald Transportation Corp., which is in the six-vendor rotation.
Scott Blasie, the city's code compliance administrator and one of the four staff members who reviewed the towing franchise bids, said that the process was fair, but he understands where such complaints are coming from.
"We ran into a lot of politicking and salesmanship during our site visits and inspections," he said.
Boynton Beach is not the first municipality to move forward with a towing franchise agreement. West Palm Beach charges $15,000 a year to each of four towing companies. Boca Raton charges two companies $55,000 each, and Delray Beach charges $160,000 to a single company.
Despite going through an open-bid process, not all of the towing companies were happy .
Attorney Michael Weiner, speaking on behalf of Westway Towing, told the commission last month that the towing companies selected present a liability for the city because they rent and subcontract some of their equipment, and they have multiple storage locations.
Based on the rating system that city staff used, Westway came in third for the two-vendor franchise agreement. The company isn't in the city's current six-vendor rotation.
"That's nice that the company owns all of its equipment outright, but that doesn't necessarily make them a better towing company," Blasie said. "Somebody's going to win and somebody's going to lose. You can't make everybody happy."
Weiner has submitted a bid protest letter on behalf of Westway, which is being reviewed by the city attorney. A recommendation will be sent to the city manager, who will make a decision and respond to the protester.
Westway will have 30 days to appeal the decision, and if the company chooses to do so, the city commission will have final say over the matter.
But until then, the towing franchise agreement is on hold.
"Hopefully it will be resolved soon," LaVerriere said. "It's lost revenue for the city."
Beck's Towing & Recovery will pay the city $104,500 annually and Zuccala Wrecker Service will pay $100,075 to tow all of the disabled and illegally parked vehicles within the city limits.
In April, the commission approved moving forward with the bidding. The move seemed to assuage many tow companies, who felt that had been cut out of the city's business by the previous exclusive contract. The previous contract had six tow companies on rotation for calls, which was time-consuming for city staff. Both Beck's and Zuccala are in this rotation.
The city received bids from nine towing companies by the Aug. 3 deadline. A company could submit bids for a single tow-company agreement, a two-company agreement, and a three company agreement.
After reviewing bids, city staff recommended that the commission approve a three-year agreement with the two highest-ranked bidders for the two-vendor scenario. The agreement includes the option for the commission to renew it for two additional one-year periods.
Although the city could have brought in more money with the single-vendor scenario, which would have gone to Beck's Towing for $223,500, Lori LaVerriere, assistant city manager, said that staff decided that having two vendors would be in the best interest of residents.
Towing has been a controversial issue in Boynton Beach for many years. In 2008, Craig Goldstein, owner of Westway Towing, told investigators that former City Commissioner David Katz offered to lobby the commission on his behalf in exchange for $25,000.
Mayor José Rodriguez received campaign contributions from both of the tow companies chosen for the franchise agreement. He also received a contribution from one of the other seven companies that submitted bids - Emerald Transportation Corp., which is in the six-vendor rotation.
Scott Blasie, the city's code compliance administrator and one of the four staff members who reviewed the towing franchise bids, said that the process was fair, but he understands where such complaints are coming from.
"We ran into a lot of politicking and salesmanship during our site visits and inspections," he said.
Boynton Beach is not the first municipality to move forward with a towing franchise agreement. West Palm Beach charges $15,000 a year to each of four towing companies. Boca Raton charges two companies $55,000 each, and Delray Beach charges $160,000 to a single company.
Despite going through an open-bid process, not all of the towing companies were happy .
Attorney Michael Weiner, speaking on behalf of Westway Towing, told the commission last month that the towing companies selected present a liability for the city because they rent and subcontract some of their equipment, and they have multiple storage locations.
Based on the rating system that city staff used, Westway came in third for the two-vendor franchise agreement. The company isn't in the city's current six-vendor rotation.
"That's nice that the company owns all of its equipment outright, but that doesn't necessarily make them a better towing company," Blasie said. "Somebody's going to win and somebody's going to lose. You can't make everybody happy."
Weiner has submitted a bid protest letter on behalf of Westway, which is being reviewed by the city attorney. A recommendation will be sent to the city manager, who will make a decision and respond to the protester.
Westway will have 30 days to appeal the decision, and if the company chooses to do so, the city commission will have final say over the matter.
But until then, the towing franchise agreement is on hold.
"Hopefully it will be resolved soon," LaVerriere said. "It's lost revenue for the city."
Monday, October 4, 2010
JPD seeking towing firms for rotation
JPD seeking towing firms for rotation
The new agreement sets fees at $75 to tow most vehicles. It goes into effect on Friday. Several companies said they have been charging $125 for years.
The city is continuing its wrecker service enrollment period through Thursday.
The enrollment period will allow wrecker companies not on the city's rotation list to see if they qualify for placement, said Robert West, public safety administrator of the Jackson Police Department License and Permit Unit.
"We want to see if there are businesses out there that do qualify, and if there are, we want to give them the opportunity to get on the list," West said. "There are some who don't know how to get on the rotation."
West said the city has not done this type of reaching out often.
The new wrecker service agreement has angered a number of tow companies who believe they will be underpaid.
Despite the criticism, all of the companies that participated under the old agreement signed up for the new agreement, with the exception of "maybe one," West said. He said the city also has gained several new companies.
About 17 wrecker services are on the rotation. The city has about 3,000 calls to wrecker companies each year.
Trey Ward, owner of Ward's Wrecker Service and an outspoken critic of the city's new agreement, said companies signed up for the new agreement to give themselves an option, but he expects several to drop out.
"They won't be able to afford it," Ward said. "They want us to assume the risk, but don't want to pay us for the risk."
To qualify for the rotation, companies must have a gated salvage yard able to store 20 or more vehicles at one time. The property must be in an Industrial 2 Zone. Companies must also have a city of Jackson privilege license and a certain amount of liability insurance.
.
The new agreement sets fees at $75 to tow most vehicles. It goes into effect on Friday. Several companies said they have been charging $125 for years.
The city is continuing its wrecker service enrollment period through Thursday.
The enrollment period will allow wrecker companies not on the city's rotation list to see if they qualify for placement, said Robert West, public safety administrator of the Jackson Police Department License and Permit Unit.
"We want to see if there are businesses out there that do qualify, and if there are, we want to give them the opportunity to get on the list," West said. "There are some who don't know how to get on the rotation."
West said the city has not done this type of reaching out often.
The new wrecker service agreement has angered a number of tow companies who believe they will be underpaid.
Despite the criticism, all of the companies that participated under the old agreement signed up for the new agreement, with the exception of "maybe one," West said. He said the city also has gained several new companies.
About 17 wrecker services are on the rotation. The city has about 3,000 calls to wrecker companies each year.
Trey Ward, owner of Ward's Wrecker Service and an outspoken critic of the city's new agreement, said companies signed up for the new agreement to give themselves an option, but he expects several to drop out.
"They won't be able to afford it," Ward said. "They want us to assume the risk, but don't want to pay us for the risk."
To qualify for the rotation, companies must have a gated salvage yard able to store 20 or more vehicles at one time. The property must be in an Industrial 2 Zone. Companies must also have a city of Jackson privilege license and a certain amount of liability insurance.
.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
TOWING COMPANY FIGHTS BACK
Seven tow trucking companies used to be on a rotation for the sheriff's office. Now, only one company gets all the action.
Ray Apodaca is the manager Alba Southwest Wrecker he says that he just wants the rotation back.
"The towing company who was awarded the bid right now is operating without a signed contract. I discovered this the other day when we went to commissioners court that the commissioners we're unaware that this contract had been awarded.One of the commissioners brought up the point, did we sign something," Apodaca said.
The companies are saying they were never notified about the bid or about their termination. The reason for the change? Sheriff Wiles says changing to one company will benefit people by saving them money with a lowered basic tow fee.
Roberto Carrasco from Carrasco Wrecking says he wishes that everyone had the chance to provide their services for a set price.
"If the county would have had the courtesy to sit down with us we could have negotiated any type of contract or agreement. We've been operating with them for over 40 years they could have at least let us know what was going on," Carrasco said.
Sheriff Wiles admits he didn't notify any companies that there would be an opportunity to bid, but says that ethically he didn't think he could after the bid was put out. now, the companies will pursue legal options to get their business back.
Viola Parra from Parra's Wrecker Service says that their business has gone down significantly in the past few weeks.
"Our workload has decreased 50% so it's affecting us a lot," Parra said.
Ray Apodaca is the manager Alba Southwest Wrecker he says that he just wants the rotation back.
"The towing company who was awarded the bid right now is operating without a signed contract. I discovered this the other day when we went to commissioners court that the commissioners we're unaware that this contract had been awarded.One of the commissioners brought up the point, did we sign something," Apodaca said.
The companies are saying they were never notified about the bid or about their termination. The reason for the change? Sheriff Wiles says changing to one company will benefit people by saving them money with a lowered basic tow fee.
Roberto Carrasco from Carrasco Wrecking says he wishes that everyone had the chance to provide their services for a set price.
"If the county would have had the courtesy to sit down with us we could have negotiated any type of contract or agreement. We've been operating with them for over 40 years they could have at least let us know what was going on," Carrasco said.
Sheriff Wiles admits he didn't notify any companies that there would be an opportunity to bid, but says that ethically he didn't think he could after the bid was put out. now, the companies will pursue legal options to get their business back.
Viola Parra from Parra's Wrecker Service says that their business has gone down significantly in the past few weeks.
"Our workload has decreased 50% so it's affecting us a lot," Parra said.
Friday, September 24, 2010
GREENVILLE -- Eric Dominique Holloway, 23, has been arrested in connection with the murder of Walter Clayton Malloy Sr.
GREENVILLE -- Eric Dominique Holloway, 23, has been arrested in connection with the murder of Walter Clayton Malloy Sr.
Greenville Police arrested Holloway at his home, on the 1000 block of W. 5th Street, just after 4:30 Thursday afternoon.
Holloway had his red and white Buick towed Saturday morning by the victim's towing company, Clay's Wrecker Service, according to police.
Holloway shot Malloy, 59, and the suspect's Buick crashed into one of the company's wreckers, police said.
Police wouldn't confirm that Holloway was behind the wheel but say he was the only person involved with Saturday's murder.
Police interviewed Holloway on the day of the murder but didn't have enough evidence to arrest him then, Greenville Police Chief William Anderson said at a press conference.
Police obtained an arrest warrant Thursday after a tip from Crimestoppers.
Holloway has three prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, all in 2007; he was out on probation the day Malloy was murdered.
Holloway is expected in court Friday morning, when a judge will likely set a bond.
Greenville Police arrested Holloway at his home, on the 1000 block of W. 5th Street, just after 4:30 Thursday afternoon.
Holloway had his red and white Buick towed Saturday morning by the victim's towing company, Clay's Wrecker Service, according to police.
Holloway shot Malloy, 59, and the suspect's Buick crashed into one of the company's wreckers, police said.
Police wouldn't confirm that Holloway was behind the wheel but say he was the only person involved with Saturday's murder.
Police interviewed Holloway on the day of the murder but didn't have enough evidence to arrest him then, Greenville Police Chief William Anderson said at a press conference.
Police obtained an arrest warrant Thursday after a tip from Crimestoppers.
Holloway has three prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, all in 2007; he was out on probation the day Malloy was murdered.
Holloway is expected in court Friday morning, when a judge will likely set a bond.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Proposal changes wrecker rotation
Proposal changes wrecker rotation
Residents voicing their concerns over reduction of towing companies
The TimesStacy Chapman, who owns Expressway Wrecker on Athens Highway with her parents, looks over the inside of a tow truck Tuesday in Gainesville. The Gainesville City Council is considering a proposal to change to a bid contract for two local wrecker companies rather than the current rotation system of 11 companies.View Larger
A large number of Gainesville residents showed up to Tuesday's City Council meeting, including several people frustrated about proposed changes to the city's wrecker services.
At Thursday's work session, Gainesville Police Chief Brian Kelly opened up discussion with council members about moving to a bid contract for two local wrecker companies rather than the current rotation system of 11 companies.
"I want to discuss this with you to get direction. The current system lays responsibility on the police department to set the fees and rotation lists and to inspect the lots," he said Thursday.
"We've seen the complaints increase in the last couple of years, and I want to try to express they are not our wrecker services."
Kelly proposed the change based on a study of surrounding city services, saying the bid system makes the companies more responsible for liability, hours of service and prompt response time.
Local wrecker employees showed up Tuesday to voice their concerns about the idea.
"That would put us out of business," said Stacy Chapman, who owns Expressway Wrecker with her parents.
"All we own is tied up in the business, and the rotation keeps us in business. If you go to bid, it will not only put us out of business, we will ... lose everything that we've worked so hard to build."
Chip Patterson of Patterson Auto & Wrecker Service demanded the wrecker companies meet with Kelly in the next 15 days. Others expressed their surprise.
"We'd like to be in on what's going on," said Mike Holland, owner of Holland Wrecker Service.
"We seem to find out later. If we can figure out the problem, we can deal with it."
City Manager Kip Padgett noted that no official change has been proposed at this time and the idea was opened for discussion because of past issues with wrecker services.
"We just don't understand why you want to change it. We follow the guidelines and don't charge over what the city allows," Chapman said. "It's our livelihood, and I feel like we're left out of the loop a lot."
Kelly said he plans to meet with the companies but brought the idea before the council first to gauge their reactions.
"It's just a proposal, and we've been looking at it for years now, even before I was here," he saidTuesday morning. "But I definitely understand their concern."
Residents voicing their concerns over reduction of towing companies
The TimesStacy Chapman, who owns Expressway Wrecker on Athens Highway with her parents, looks over the inside of a tow truck Tuesday in Gainesville. The Gainesville City Council is considering a proposal to change to a bid contract for two local wrecker companies rather than the current rotation system of 11 companies.View Larger
A large number of Gainesville residents showed up to Tuesday's City Council meeting, including several people frustrated about proposed changes to the city's wrecker services.
At Thursday's work session, Gainesville Police Chief Brian Kelly opened up discussion with council members about moving to a bid contract for two local wrecker companies rather than the current rotation system of 11 companies.
"I want to discuss this with you to get direction. The current system lays responsibility on the police department to set the fees and rotation lists and to inspect the lots," he said Thursday.
"We've seen the complaints increase in the last couple of years, and I want to try to express they are not our wrecker services."
Kelly proposed the change based on a study of surrounding city services, saying the bid system makes the companies more responsible for liability, hours of service and prompt response time.
Local wrecker employees showed up Tuesday to voice their concerns about the idea.
"That would put us out of business," said Stacy Chapman, who owns Expressway Wrecker with her parents.
"All we own is tied up in the business, and the rotation keeps us in business. If you go to bid, it will not only put us out of business, we will ... lose everything that we've worked so hard to build."
Chip Patterson of Patterson Auto & Wrecker Service demanded the wrecker companies meet with Kelly in the next 15 days. Others expressed their surprise.
"We'd like to be in on what's going on," said Mike Holland, owner of Holland Wrecker Service.
"We seem to find out later. If we can figure out the problem, we can deal with it."
City Manager Kip Padgett noted that no official change has been proposed at this time and the idea was opened for discussion because of past issues with wrecker services.
"We just don't understand why you want to change it. We follow the guidelines and don't charge over what the city allows," Chapman said. "It's our livelihood, and I feel like we're left out of the loop a lot."
Kelly said he plans to meet with the companies but brought the idea before the council first to gauge their reactions.
"It's just a proposal, and we've been looking at it for years now, even before I was here," he saidTuesday morning. "But I definitely understand their concern."
NEW INFO: Wrecker Owner Was Shot
NEW INFO: Wrecker Owner Was Shot
Greenville police are releasing more information about the death of Walter Clay Malloy. He is the owner of Clay's Wrecker Service. His son found him dead, outside his business early Saturday morning. Police are now saying Malloy was shot and appears to have died from that gunshot.
The word of Walter Clay Malloy's death spread quickly. When fellow tow truck driver, Danny Anderson, heard the news, he just wanted to know one thing.
"Mainly just how it happened, I was just shocked, really shocked," says Danny Anderson with Anderson & Sons Automotive.
In the 911 tapes released by police, an unidentified male caller says Malloy had just towed a white Buick and the owner wanted it back. The Greenville police say they've recovered a "white buick with red doors" with heavy front-end damage that was seen speeding away from the murder.
But no word on a suspect and with towing, you never know who you will meet next.
"When we leave here on those wreckers we don't know who we will pick up or what we are going to run into," says Susie Haddock, Malloy's cousin and a tow truck driver.
With the amount of people and students in Greenville, parking can be a problem. Most people are towed without issue, but sometimes it can get heated. Something Anderson has experienced first hand.
"They may jump in their car, jump on their car, you never know and sometimes you have to call the police to come over and get things straightened out," tells Anderson.
Greenville police are interviewing everyone towed by Clay's Wrecker Service 24 hours prior to his death. Anderson says the public needs to understand one thing...
"Realize we are just doing a job that somebody is going to do. If it is not us, somebody else is gonna do it, because they need it done," tells Anderson,"You know if you're in the wrong, you're in the wrong and that's life."
And Malloy's life didn't need to end this way.
"My cousin was murdered and we're going to find him," says Haddock.
Greenville police are releasing more information about the death of Walter Clay Malloy. He is the owner of Clay's Wrecker Service. His son found him dead, outside his business early Saturday morning. Police are now saying Malloy was shot and appears to have died from that gunshot.
The word of Walter Clay Malloy's death spread quickly. When fellow tow truck driver, Danny Anderson, heard the news, he just wanted to know one thing.
"Mainly just how it happened, I was just shocked, really shocked," says Danny Anderson with Anderson & Sons Automotive.
In the 911 tapes released by police, an unidentified male caller says Malloy had just towed a white Buick and the owner wanted it back. The Greenville police say they've recovered a "white buick with red doors" with heavy front-end damage that was seen speeding away from the murder.
But no word on a suspect and with towing, you never know who you will meet next.
"When we leave here on those wreckers we don't know who we will pick up or what we are going to run into," says Susie Haddock, Malloy's cousin and a tow truck driver.
With the amount of people and students in Greenville, parking can be a problem. Most people are towed without issue, but sometimes it can get heated. Something Anderson has experienced first hand.
"They may jump in their car, jump on their car, you never know and sometimes you have to call the police to come over and get things straightened out," tells Anderson.
Greenville police are interviewing everyone towed by Clay's Wrecker Service 24 hours prior to his death. Anderson says the public needs to understand one thing...
"Realize we are just doing a job that somebody is going to do. If it is not us, somebody else is gonna do it, because they need it done," tells Anderson,"You know if you're in the wrong, you're in the wrong and that's life."
And Malloy's life didn't need to end this way.
"My cousin was murdered and we're going to find him," says Haddock.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
MIB SEIZE ALMOST 2 pounds OF COCAINE
Just before 11:30pm Sunday night Montgomery County Precinct 4 Deputy Juan Chapa was patrolling US 59 near Splendora with his K-9 partner Porter. As he approached Splendora he spotted a tan Dodge Mangum which was northbound in the left lane just approaching the construction area. Deputy Chapa noticed the license plates on the car were not visible and that what appeared to be paper tags covered in plastic were being displayed. The plates showed to be Louisiana tags.
Chapa continued to follow as there was not a place in the construction area to make a safe traffic stop. He also observed the vehicle to remain in the left lane forcing vehicles to pass him in the right lane. Once the construction area was cleared Deputy Chapa attempted to pull the Dodge over. The driver continued driving until they reached Fostoria Road at which time he pulled over.
AS he approached the vehicle and asked for identification and insurance. The driver, Frank Henson Moore, age 28 who was actually from Leesville, Louisiana handed Chapa an Alaskan Identification card.
The passenger Frank Henson Coleman, age 47 of Leesville, Louisiana told Chapa they were returning to Louisiana after dropping his wife off at Bush Airport for a trip north.
When Chapa contacted the dispatcher he was advised both men had been handled before on drug charges. He then returned to the men standing behind the vehicle and ask permission to search the vehicle he was told they would not give him permission as they didn’t know what might be in the car.
Chapa then brought his K-9 partner Porter out and walked around the vehicle. It was at this point Porter detected something and a search was conducted of the vehicle. As Chapa looked under the front passenger seat he discovered a purple plastic bag. As he opened it he discovered what appeared to be cocaine.
Both men were arrested and transported to the East Montgomery County jail. Slinky’s Wrecker Service towed the vehicle.
Once at the office the drugs were weighed and totaled 797 grams which is almost two kilos.
Both men have been charged with Aggravated Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver. Since both had prior histories on large drug seizures their bond was set at $500,000 each.
Just before 11:30pm Sunday night Montgomery County Precinct 4 Deputy Juan Chapa was patrolling US 59 near Splendora with his K-9 partner Porter. As he approached Splendora he spotted a tan Dodge Mangum which was northbound in the left lane just approaching the construction area. Deputy Chapa noticed the license plates on the car were not visible and that what appeared to be paper tags covered in plastic were being displayed. The plates showed to be Louisiana tags.
Chapa continued to follow as there was not a place in the construction area to make a safe traffic stop. He also observed the vehicle to remain in the left lane forcing vehicles to pass him in the right lane. Once the construction area was cleared Deputy Chapa attempted to pull the Dodge over. The driver continued driving until they reached Fostoria Road at which time he pulled over.
AS he approached the vehicle and asked for identification and insurance. The driver, Frank Henson Moore, age 28 who was actually from Leesville, Louisiana handed Chapa an Alaskan Identification card.
The passenger Frank Henson Coleman, age 47 of Leesville, Louisiana told Chapa they were returning to Louisiana after dropping his wife off at Bush Airport for a trip north.
When Chapa contacted the dispatcher he was advised both men had been handled before on drug charges. He then returned to the men standing behind the vehicle and ask permission to search the vehicle he was told they would not give him permission as they didn’t know what might be in the car.
Chapa then brought his K-9 partner Porter out and walked around the vehicle. It was at this point Porter detected something and a search was conducted of the vehicle. As Chapa looked under the front passenger seat he discovered a purple plastic bag. As he opened it he discovered what appeared to be cocaine.
Both men were arrested and transported to the East Montgomery County jail. Slinky’s Wrecker Service towed the vehicle.
Once at the office the drugs were weighed and totaled 797 grams which is almost two kilos.
Both men have been charged with Aggravated Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver. Since both had prior histories on large drug seizures their bond was set at $500,000 each.
Initial autopsy inconclusive
An autopsy performed Monday by the regional medical examiner shed no light how a local tow service operator died Saturday. An employee with the Forensic Pathology Department within East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine said the cause of death for Walter Clayton Malloy Sr., 59, is still listed as pending because no definite cause could be identified.
She said the medical examiner was waiting on other information before making a final assessment.
The body of Malloy, owner of Clay’s Wrecker Service, was discovered by his son just before 7 a.m. Saturday behind the Chestnut Street office.
The Greenville Police Department is handling the death investigation. Investigators have not yet classified the death as a homicide.
Malloy family members have said they believe Malloy was killed.
Previous story:
The son of a tow service operator found dead at their Greenville business early Saturday said that he believes his father was murdered, though police haven't declared it a homicide yet.
Walter Clayton Malloy Sr., 59, was found dead just before 7 a.m. outside Clay's Wrecker Service, 2016 Chestnut St., according to the Greenville Police Department.
Walter Clayton Malloy Jr., who goes by Clay Malloy, said Sunday that he spoke to his father shortly before finding his body.
Their family towing service is open 24 hours daily, Clay Malloy said, and they had a driver quit about 4 a.m. Saturday, so his father came in to help. As Clay Malloy headed out to tow a car illegally parked at an apartment complex, he invited his father to ride along.
“But he said he'd just stay behind,” Clay Malloy said. “He was always looking out for me and told me I'd have more room that way.”
Clay Malloy returned to the office less than 15 minutes later and said he “found him lifeless.”
The brother of Walter Clayton Malloy Sr., Tom Malloy, said Saturday there may have been a confrontation before his brother's death. Clay Malloy said Sunday that he isn't sure about that account.
“My father wasn't the type to have caused a confrontation,” he said. “He would have shut the gate and called the police.”
Regardless, Clay Malloy said his family has come together in mourning.
“All of us are sticking together,” he said. “We may argue and fuss but as a family, you can't beat us.”
He added that the family appreciates the hundreds of friends who have called or stopped by to express their condolences.
Greenville Police Department spokesman Cpl. Kip Gaskins said Sunday afternoon that investigators have no new information to release.
“It has not been ruled a homicide yet,” Gaskins said. “Nothing has changed since yesterday. We're not ruling anything out, of course, but we have no confirmed evidence at this point that it was actually a homicide.”
Clay Malloy said he has faith in the justice system, particularly because of his relationship with Pitt County sheriff-elect Neil Elks and his wife, Connie, who is a Greenville police detective.
“It won't bring my father back but ... I have faith in the sheriff and Clark Everett,” he said. “Justice will be served. Without a shadow of a doubt.”
Clay Malloy asks anyone with information about what happened to call Pitt-Greenville CrimeStoppers at 758-7777.
A funeral for Walter Clayton Malloy Sr. is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Wilkerson Funeral Home.
She said the medical examiner was waiting on other information before making a final assessment.
The body of Malloy, owner of Clay’s Wrecker Service, was discovered by his son just before 7 a.m. Saturday behind the Chestnut Street office.
The Greenville Police Department is handling the death investigation. Investigators have not yet classified the death as a homicide.
Malloy family members have said they believe Malloy was killed.
Previous story:
The son of a tow service operator found dead at their Greenville business early Saturday said that he believes his father was murdered, though police haven't declared it a homicide yet.
Walter Clayton Malloy Sr., 59, was found dead just before 7 a.m. outside Clay's Wrecker Service, 2016 Chestnut St., according to the Greenville Police Department.
Walter Clayton Malloy Jr., who goes by Clay Malloy, said Sunday that he spoke to his father shortly before finding his body.
Their family towing service is open 24 hours daily, Clay Malloy said, and they had a driver quit about 4 a.m. Saturday, so his father came in to help. As Clay Malloy headed out to tow a car illegally parked at an apartment complex, he invited his father to ride along.
“But he said he'd just stay behind,” Clay Malloy said. “He was always looking out for me and told me I'd have more room that way.”
Clay Malloy returned to the office less than 15 minutes later and said he “found him lifeless.”
The brother of Walter Clayton Malloy Sr., Tom Malloy, said Saturday there may have been a confrontation before his brother's death. Clay Malloy said Sunday that he isn't sure about that account.
“My father wasn't the type to have caused a confrontation,” he said. “He would have shut the gate and called the police.”
Regardless, Clay Malloy said his family has come together in mourning.
“All of us are sticking together,” he said. “We may argue and fuss but as a family, you can't beat us.”
He added that the family appreciates the hundreds of friends who have called or stopped by to express their condolences.
Greenville Police Department spokesman Cpl. Kip Gaskins said Sunday afternoon that investigators have no new information to release.
“It has not been ruled a homicide yet,” Gaskins said. “Nothing has changed since yesterday. We're not ruling anything out, of course, but we have no confirmed evidence at this point that it was actually a homicide.”
Clay Malloy said he has faith in the justice system, particularly because of his relationship with Pitt County sheriff-elect Neil Elks and his wife, Connie, who is a Greenville police detective.
“It won't bring my father back but ... I have faith in the sheriff and Clark Everett,” he said. “Justice will be served. Without a shadow of a doubt.”
Clay Malloy asks anyone with information about what happened to call Pitt-Greenville CrimeStoppers at 758-7777.
A funeral for Walter Clayton Malloy Sr. is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Wilkerson Funeral Home.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Rosenberg Police Department Seeks Assistance For Family Of Officer Injured In Motorcycle Accident
Rosenberg Police Department Seeks Assistance For Family Of Officer Injured In Motorcycle Accident
The Rosenberg Police Department is collecting donations to help the family of an officer injured in a motorcycle accident Sept. 15.
An account has been established to help the family of police officer Gary Roberts, who is currently in the Shock-Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hermann. The department is collecting donations to help with medical expenses.
Donations can be made at Texas Citizens Bank, 24701 Southwest Freeway, Suite 700, Rosenberg, 281-238-8700. For additional information, contact the Rosenberg Police Department at 832-595-3700.
The Rosenberg Police Department is collecting donations to help the family of an officer injured in a motorcycle accident Sept. 15.
An account has been established to help the family of police officer Gary Roberts, who is currently in the Shock-Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hermann. The department is collecting donations to help with medical expenses.
Donations can be made at Texas Citizens Bank, 24701 Southwest Freeway, Suite 700, Rosenberg, 281-238-8700. For additional information, contact the Rosenberg Police Department at 832-595-3700.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Board Hears About Towing Companies’ Ability To Charge Uncapped Fees On Private Property Tows
Board Hears About Towing Companies’ Ability To Charge Uncapped Fees On Private Property Tows
The city of Chattanooga’s recently revised ordinance governing the operation of towing businesses has apparently left some wide-open loop-holes in the amount towing companies can charge for private property tows, the Beer and Wrecker Board was told Thursday. In an instance brought before the board, it was discovered that if a company is contracted to tow cars off of privately owned property, they can add on uncapped “incidental” charges.
In the case of one young college student, who admittedly parked in the wrong spot, All About Towing Company charged $250 to reclaim his vehicle.
Popular local restaurant entrepreneur Johnny Hennen went before the board to inquire about the charges recently levied against his son. The young man, a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, had parked behind the Genghis Grill at 138 Market Street in a posted tow away zone. However, after having had a few drinks, he elected to leave his car there and stay over with a friend. Mr. Hennen told the board that his son realizes he had parked in the wrong place. However, he felt the charge for the tow was excessive in light of the latest changes to the city ordinance.
He was told by board chairman J. Frederick Weinhold that while the city ordinance does set basic rates for day and night tows, tow operators are allowed “uncapped” incidental charges related to after hours private property tows. While the bill from All About Towing, owned and operated by Carter Gross, reflected the total charge as $250, it did not break the bill down by applicable fees, as required by the ordinance, the board was told.
Mr. Gross was a vocal opponent of the ordinance changes that lowered the amount tow operators could charge their “customers.”
According to Mr. Weinhold, “The charges are set as $125 basic fee for daytime; $135 basic fee for nighttime plus a $50 winching fee for both times, plus any additional fees the operator deems appropriate.”
As put by board member Phillip Sallee, “So a towing operator could charge $800 or even a thousand dollars and we have no control over it?” Mr. Weinhold responded in the affirmative, saying “not by the way the city ordinance is written.”
“Our only jurisdiction is on district tows as authorized by the police department,” the chairman concluded. “There is no cap on night tows.”
Councilwoman Deborah Scott, who was in the audience, said afterwards that she did not vote in favor of the ordinance as it is currently written “and for the very reasons in evidence today.” She stated, “I have very real concerns over leaving fees uncapped on these incidental fees.”
Asked if she would bring this up at a future council meeting she replied that she was undecided at this point, but did say, “Those on the council who voted for the ordinance should be very aware of the problems caused to our residents and those visiting our city.”
Many on the Beer and Wrecker Board appeared to have problems with the way the ordinance is written, as well, and approached the councilwoman at the end of the meeting to address their concerns with her.
In other actions, the board approved beer licenses for Ribs and Blues LP, doing business as Sugar’s Ribs at 507 Broad Street; Applebee’s at 401 Market Street; Pizza ChaCha/Jitteaz at 863 McCallie Avenue; Cloud 9, LLC at 1101 Hixson Pike; Stop”N”Go Mini Market at 103 W. 38th Street; and, Mi Tierra (formerly Mi Tia’s) at 5813 Lee Highway, Suite #3.
Pedro Diego, appearing for the second time before the board, was again denied a permit based on his establishment not having passed a fire inspection. His application was passed until Oct. 7.
Others passed until that date were: several locations of the Dollar General Store (carry-out permits) and Starr-Heinsman, LLC at 825 Houston St.
Special events licenses were given to Chattanooga Presents for two events. The first is the Fourth Annual Three Sisters Festival on Oct. 1 & 2 at Ross’s Landing; the second is the first occurrence of the RiverRocks Festival, a 10-day event featuring outdoor activities with over 100 events scheduled to take place. Beer sales will occur on the last two days of the festival, Oct. 8 & 9.
Larry Don Cook, Jr., representing “Chickstock,” a fund-raiser for the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy, was given a special event permit for Oct. 10. The event will occur at Greenway Farms, 5051 Gann Store Road.
Attorney Arvin Reingold, appearing for La Macarana of 2825 Rossville Blvd., on a violation of failing to purchase from a distributor and underage drinking, asked that it be passed until Oct. 7, which he was granted. Officer John Collins of the Chattanooga Police Department raised an objection to continuing the case as there were already two other cases the establishment had received suspensions for three days. One involved an incident with a minor.
The city of Chattanooga’s recently revised ordinance governing the operation of towing businesses has apparently left some wide-open loop-holes in the amount towing companies can charge for private property tows, the Beer and Wrecker Board was told Thursday. In an instance brought before the board, it was discovered that if a company is contracted to tow cars off of privately owned property, they can add on uncapped “incidental” charges.
In the case of one young college student, who admittedly parked in the wrong spot, All About Towing Company charged $250 to reclaim his vehicle.
Popular local restaurant entrepreneur Johnny Hennen went before the board to inquire about the charges recently levied against his son. The young man, a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, had parked behind the Genghis Grill at 138 Market Street in a posted tow away zone. However, after having had a few drinks, he elected to leave his car there and stay over with a friend. Mr. Hennen told the board that his son realizes he had parked in the wrong place. However, he felt the charge for the tow was excessive in light of the latest changes to the city ordinance.
He was told by board chairman J. Frederick Weinhold that while the city ordinance does set basic rates for day and night tows, tow operators are allowed “uncapped” incidental charges related to after hours private property tows. While the bill from All About Towing, owned and operated by Carter Gross, reflected the total charge as $250, it did not break the bill down by applicable fees, as required by the ordinance, the board was told.
Mr. Gross was a vocal opponent of the ordinance changes that lowered the amount tow operators could charge their “customers.”
According to Mr. Weinhold, “The charges are set as $125 basic fee for daytime; $135 basic fee for nighttime plus a $50 winching fee for both times, plus any additional fees the operator deems appropriate.”
As put by board member Phillip Sallee, “So a towing operator could charge $800 or even a thousand dollars and we have no control over it?” Mr. Weinhold responded in the affirmative, saying “not by the way the city ordinance is written.”
“Our only jurisdiction is on district tows as authorized by the police department,” the chairman concluded. “There is no cap on night tows.”
Councilwoman Deborah Scott, who was in the audience, said afterwards that she did not vote in favor of the ordinance as it is currently written “and for the very reasons in evidence today.” She stated, “I have very real concerns over leaving fees uncapped on these incidental fees.”
Asked if she would bring this up at a future council meeting she replied that she was undecided at this point, but did say, “Those on the council who voted for the ordinance should be very aware of the problems caused to our residents and those visiting our city.”
Many on the Beer and Wrecker Board appeared to have problems with the way the ordinance is written, as well, and approached the councilwoman at the end of the meeting to address their concerns with her.
In other actions, the board approved beer licenses for Ribs and Blues LP, doing business as Sugar’s Ribs at 507 Broad Street; Applebee’s at 401 Market Street; Pizza ChaCha/Jitteaz at 863 McCallie Avenue; Cloud 9, LLC at 1101 Hixson Pike; Stop”N”Go Mini Market at 103 W. 38th Street; and, Mi Tierra (formerly Mi Tia’s) at 5813 Lee Highway, Suite #3.
Pedro Diego, appearing for the second time before the board, was again denied a permit based on his establishment not having passed a fire inspection. His application was passed until Oct. 7.
Others passed until that date were: several locations of the Dollar General Store (carry-out permits) and Starr-Heinsman, LLC at 825 Houston St.
Special events licenses were given to Chattanooga Presents for two events. The first is the Fourth Annual Three Sisters Festival on Oct. 1 & 2 at Ross’s Landing; the second is the first occurrence of the RiverRocks Festival, a 10-day event featuring outdoor activities with over 100 events scheduled to take place. Beer sales will occur on the last two days of the festival, Oct. 8 & 9.
Larry Don Cook, Jr., representing “Chickstock,” a fund-raiser for the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy, was given a special event permit for Oct. 10. The event will occur at Greenway Farms, 5051 Gann Store Road.
Attorney Arvin Reingold, appearing for La Macarana of 2825 Rossville Blvd., on a violation of failing to purchase from a distributor and underage drinking, asked that it be passed until Oct. 7, which he was granted. Officer John Collins of the Chattanooga Police Department raised an objection to continuing the case as there were already two other cases the establishment had received suspensions for three days. One involved an incident with a minor.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Philly's "Wreck Chasers" Coming To TV Soon
Here's the story from The Daily Journal:
PHILADELPHIA -- The mean streets of the City of Brotherly Love are once again coming to television.
"Wreck Chasers," a reality show about the city's notoriously aggressive tow truck drivers, is shooting and is slated to premiere in late October on TLC.
Production crews are following several drivers with one unidentified Philadelphia towing company, often on nights and weekends when more crashes occur, as they try to beat the competition to wrecks. Filming started in May and is expected to continue until sometime in October, said Jim Kowats, the show's executive producer.
"They're very colorful, they're larger than life, they're very Philly," he said of the show's soon-to-be stars. The city was chosen because of the unusual and competitive nature of its towing businesses, he said.
It's the second series focusing on the daily difficulties for Philadelphia drivers. "Parking Wars," in its third season on the A&E cable network, features Philadelphia Parking Authority employees as they write tickets, clamp yellow locking "boots" to traffic scofflaws' car wheels, take plenty of flak from furious drivers and generally deal with the chaos that comes with trying to park in Philadelphia.
"Wreck Chasers" comes amid renewed scrutiny over Philadelphia's long-criticized tow truck drivers, who police and lawmakers say combatively compete for business as soon as an accident comes across their scanners.
Rival companies getting to a crash simultaneously can resort to blows, or worse.
A driver from J & Son's Towing is accused of shooting a competitor from Mystical Complete Auto Service in the thigh on July 19 because he thought his rival was trying to swoop in on a job, police said. Two days later, 13 cars on the J & Son's lot were torched and Mystical's offices were riddled with six bullets.
TLC had contacted city officials about shooting "Wreck Chasers" weeks earlier, said Sharon Pinkenson of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.
Kowats said the crew profiled in the show are "dedicated, likable" people who view their work removing wrecks and clearing accident scenes as providing a service that the city doesn't.
They do take it seriously. They're passionate about what they do," he said.
"They see what the ambulance drivers see, what the cops see, the injuries, the fatalities. There's a lot of emotions involved."
Philadelphia's attempts to tame its anarchic wreck chasers have failed to stop the free-for-all.
Two years ago, the city began requiring police to rotate towing jobs among 96 tow companies.
Wreck chasers skirt the system, however, by monitoring police radio and even beating officers to crashes.
After the July shooting, police began using laptop computers in cruisers instead of police radio to report accidents.
Now they believe some of the towing companies are instead monitoring Fire Department radio calls for rescue units being dispatched to crashes.
Councilman Jim Kenney has called for a suspension of the rotation system while the city reviews the licensing status of the 96 companies, including the two involved in what he called a "Wild West shootout."
Numerous complaints or violations have been lodged against 19 companies on the list, Kenney has said, while others are not properly licensed or simply changed names after losing their licenses.
Some wreck chasers also have been accused of signing up unwitting drivers to contracts that commit them to expensive repairs
PHILADELPHIA -- The mean streets of the City of Brotherly Love are once again coming to television.
"Wreck Chasers," a reality show about the city's notoriously aggressive tow truck drivers, is shooting and is slated to premiere in late October on TLC.
Production crews are following several drivers with one unidentified Philadelphia towing company, often on nights and weekends when more crashes occur, as they try to beat the competition to wrecks. Filming started in May and is expected to continue until sometime in October, said Jim Kowats, the show's executive producer.
"They're very colorful, they're larger than life, they're very Philly," he said of the show's soon-to-be stars. The city was chosen because of the unusual and competitive nature of its towing businesses, he said.
It's the second series focusing on the daily difficulties for Philadelphia drivers. "Parking Wars," in its third season on the A&E cable network, features Philadelphia Parking Authority employees as they write tickets, clamp yellow locking "boots" to traffic scofflaws' car wheels, take plenty of flak from furious drivers and generally deal with the chaos that comes with trying to park in Philadelphia.
"Wreck Chasers" comes amid renewed scrutiny over Philadelphia's long-criticized tow truck drivers, who police and lawmakers say combatively compete for business as soon as an accident comes across their scanners.
Rival companies getting to a crash simultaneously can resort to blows, or worse.
A driver from J & Son's Towing is accused of shooting a competitor from Mystical Complete Auto Service in the thigh on July 19 because he thought his rival was trying to swoop in on a job, police said. Two days later, 13 cars on the J & Son's lot were torched and Mystical's offices were riddled with six bullets.
TLC had contacted city officials about shooting "Wreck Chasers" weeks earlier, said Sharon Pinkenson of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.
Kowats said the crew profiled in the show are "dedicated, likable" people who view their work removing wrecks and clearing accident scenes as providing a service that the city doesn't.
They do take it seriously. They're passionate about what they do," he said.
"They see what the ambulance drivers see, what the cops see, the injuries, the fatalities. There's a lot of emotions involved."
Philadelphia's attempts to tame its anarchic wreck chasers have failed to stop the free-for-all.
Two years ago, the city began requiring police to rotate towing jobs among 96 tow companies.
Wreck chasers skirt the system, however, by monitoring police radio and even beating officers to crashes.
After the July shooting, police began using laptop computers in cruisers instead of police radio to report accidents.
Now they believe some of the towing companies are instead monitoring Fire Department radio calls for rescue units being dispatched to crashes.
Councilman Jim Kenney has called for a suspension of the rotation system while the city reviews the licensing status of the 96 companies, including the two involved in what he called a "Wild West shootout."
Numerous complaints or violations have been lodged against 19 companies on the list, Kenney has said, while others are not properly licensed or simply changed names after losing their licenses.
Some wreck chasers also have been accused of signing up unwitting drivers to contracts that commit them to expensive repairs
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
New Law Could Put Some towers out of work
Tow-truck law to affect businesses
Posted on 09/05/2010
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A new law designed to protect consumers from under-qualified tow truck operators goes into effect Oct. 1 and one local man says the legislation may force his towing company and other businesses like it to fold.
Jon Velez, who has operates Norwalk Towing, LLC -- a small company with two tow trucks and a total of three employees, said the stringent requirements brought on by the law will cost family-owned businesses tens of thousands of dollars.
"I've got 12-to-15 garages that I tow for," said Velez. "I depend on them and they depend on me. Not only do they depend on me, their families depend on me."
The law, which was unanimously passed in the state legislature and was signed into law by Gov. M. Jodi Rell on June 5, strengthens the equipment and license plate requirement for businesses that tow vehicles.
Tow truck companies will now be required to have their tow trucks registered with wrecker plates, whereas they were only required to have commercial plates prior to the law's enactment. The plates cost $125 and do not need to be renewed but the applicant must be a licensed automobile dealer or repairer.
"These lobbyists keep saying: 'It's only $125,'" Velez said. "It's not like going to the store and getting a quart of milk."
Velez does not own a repair shop, as required by the law, but he is contracted to tow vehicles to repair shops in Norwalk and Westport. He is also contracted by various auto clubs who have roadside-assistance programs -- such as Geico -- and companies such as AT&T.
Phil Terentino, who works for Norwalk Towing, pointed out that many local garages do not own tow trucks and the law will also affect those businesses.
"If you own a garage but don't own your own truck, who are you going to call?" said Terentino.
Joe Miano, president of the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Connecticut -- an association of towing companies -- lobbied for the law and he said it gives consumers peace of mine. He said the law is a way to weed out "backyard" or "gypsy" operations who undercut their competitors by using unlicensed drivers and underinsured vehicles.
Allen Fedor, owner of the Norwalk-based repair shop and towing company Fedor's Autobody, said he pays a high insurance premium and makes sure his workers are qualified but businesses cut prices by up to two-thirds by not doing so.
He said his company trucks are covered should one of the trucks damage the car it is towing but "gypsy" towers do not have such insurance coverage.
Velez is also highly insured and he and Terentino have all the licensing requirements needed to operate a tow truck. He has approached repair shop owners to see if he could tow for the shop but the owners are afraid of the liability that comes with operating a tow truck company.
With his options running out, Velez -- who is admittedly behind in his taxes -- fears his house will be foreclosed upon and he will not be able to pay for his son to go to college.
Velez questions why so many politicians who claim to be interested in creating and securing jobs in the state would unanimously pass a bill that will kill family-owned businesses.
"I don't think they put me out on purpose," he said. "They just didn't read the bill."
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Another stupid solution by stupid politicians. Politicians have no idea of ral life situations and so they make fixes that sound good for news releases yet very impractical in function. The shill for teh Professional Towers was just that - a shill for big companies so small companies can't get any business and the big companies can raise their rates. Where is Cafero or any other representative on this issue for a home town man with a good business? Probably on a paid vacation, paid for by the people.
Tow trucks, the company that owns them, and the rates they can charge, have been licensed for over fifty years. (Sec. 14-66 Wreckers). If this guy has been towing and getting paid w/o wrecker plates and the requisite insurance, he has been breaking the law and unfairly competing with properly licensed tow truck services.
The only way I can imagine he has avoided being arrested is the police dept is too busy and too undermanned to have anybody looking for that kind of violation.
The new law doesn't change much for licensed wreckers, it may may it harder for guys like this to continue to operate.
It is a wonder none of the licensed wreckers ever turned this guy in to the police and/or to the motor vehicle dept.
Posted on 09/05/2010
link to this article
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A new law designed to protect consumers from under-qualified tow truck operators goes into effect Oct. 1 and one local man says the legislation may force his towing company and other businesses like it to fold.
Jon Velez, who has operates Norwalk Towing, LLC -- a small company with two tow trucks and a total of three employees, said the stringent requirements brought on by the law will cost family-owned businesses tens of thousands of dollars.
"I've got 12-to-15 garages that I tow for," said Velez. "I depend on them and they depend on me. Not only do they depend on me, their families depend on me."
The law, which was unanimously passed in the state legislature and was signed into law by Gov. M. Jodi Rell on June 5, strengthens the equipment and license plate requirement for businesses that tow vehicles.
Tow truck companies will now be required to have their tow trucks registered with wrecker plates, whereas they were only required to have commercial plates prior to the law's enactment. The plates cost $125 and do not need to be renewed but the applicant must be a licensed automobile dealer or repairer.
"These lobbyists keep saying: 'It's only $125,'" Velez said. "It's not like going to the store and getting a quart of milk."
Velez does not own a repair shop, as required by the law, but he is contracted to tow vehicles to repair shops in Norwalk and Westport. He is also contracted by various auto clubs who have roadside-assistance programs -- such as Geico -- and companies such as AT&T.
Phil Terentino, who works for Norwalk Towing, pointed out that many local garages do not own tow trucks and the law will also affect those businesses.
"If you own a garage but don't own your own truck, who are you going to call?" said Terentino.
Joe Miano, president of the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Connecticut -- an association of towing companies -- lobbied for the law and he said it gives consumers peace of mine. He said the law is a way to weed out "backyard" or "gypsy" operations who undercut their competitors by using unlicensed drivers and underinsured vehicles.
Allen Fedor, owner of the Norwalk-based repair shop and towing company Fedor's Autobody, said he pays a high insurance premium and makes sure his workers are qualified but businesses cut prices by up to two-thirds by not doing so.
He said his company trucks are covered should one of the trucks damage the car it is towing but "gypsy" towers do not have such insurance coverage.
Velez is also highly insured and he and Terentino have all the licensing requirements needed to operate a tow truck. He has approached repair shop owners to see if he could tow for the shop but the owners are afraid of the liability that comes with operating a tow truck company.
With his options running out, Velez -- who is admittedly behind in his taxes -- fears his house will be foreclosed upon and he will not be able to pay for his son to go to college.
Velez questions why so many politicians who claim to be interested in creating and securing jobs in the state would unanimously pass a bill that will kill family-owned businesses.
"I don't think they put me out on purpose," he said. "They just didn't read the bill."
You must be registered and logged in to comment on stories. Login or Register now!
Another stupid solution by stupid politicians. Politicians have no idea of ral life situations and so they make fixes that sound good for news releases yet very impractical in function. The shill for teh Professional Towers was just that - a shill for big companies so small companies can't get any business and the big companies can raise their rates. Where is Cafero or any other representative on this issue for a home town man with a good business? Probably on a paid vacation, paid for by the people.
Tow trucks, the company that owns them, and the rates they can charge, have been licensed for over fifty years. (Sec. 14-66 Wreckers). If this guy has been towing and getting paid w/o wrecker plates and the requisite insurance, he has been breaking the law and unfairly competing with properly licensed tow truck services.
The only way I can imagine he has avoided being arrested is the police dept is too busy and too undermanned to have anybody looking for that kind of violation.
The new law doesn't change much for licensed wreckers, it may may it harder for guys like this to continue to operate.
It is a wonder none of the licensed wreckers ever turned this guy in to the police and/or to the motor vehicle dept.
Friday, September 3, 2010
IL Security Guard Accused of Shooting at Tow Truck
IL Security Guard Accused of Shooting at Tow Truck
A 65-year-old store security guard shot at a tow truck as his car was about to be repossessed, officials say.
Ike D. Holmes was working at an Aldi food store in the 5600 block of West Fillmore Street on Aug. 27 when a tow truck arrived at about 7 a.m. to repossess his car, police said.
Holmes argued with the two men in the tow truck, then took out a gun and shot one of the truck's tires, police said.
Holmes, of the 2100 block of West 119 Street, was charged with felony aggravated discharge of a weapon, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, failing to register a fire arm and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police said.
A 65-year-old store security guard shot at a tow truck as his car was about to be repossessed, officials say.
Ike D. Holmes was working at an Aldi food store in the 5600 block of West Fillmore Street on Aug. 27 when a tow truck arrived at about 7 a.m. to repossess his car, police said.
Holmes argued with the two men in the tow truck, then took out a gun and shot one of the truck's tires, police said.
Holmes, of the 2100 block of West 119 Street, was charged with felony aggravated discharge of a weapon, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, failing to register a fire arm and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police said.
Female colides with back of wrecker
On August 28th Deputy Zavorski was dispatched to the 28000 Block of Autumn Lane in reference to a Disturbance. The Reportee advised that a female had been driving in reverse down Autumn Lane and collided with the back of his wrecker that was parked on the street. The Reportee stated there was no damage to either vehicle, but a verbal disturbance started . Deputy Zavorski located the female sitting in her vehicle in the driveway of an abandoned home on Autumn Lane. While speaking to the female subject the Deputy observed 15 to 20 red circle shaped pills on the passenger floorboard and an open prescription pill bottle in plain view. A prescription bottle with the label torn off was in the Glove Box containing 4 ½ Lorecet pills. Also a bottle with a partial label containing 2 ½ Xanix pills was on the center console. The female subject was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Getting Familiar with Wrecker Services: more than just towing services
Wrecker services keep our roads free from traffic caused by broken down vehicles, illegally parked cars, and junked cars. They also help in the transportation of multiple vehicles from one place to another. Wrecker services provide more than just towing service, so in case you were wondering what other services they offer, here is a list of their standard menu of services.
Jumpstarts, tire changes, and lockouts-these services are usually available for 24 hours. In case you were wondering, a lockout or tag out is a safety measure on the road which ensures that dangerous machines are properly shut off and not started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or servicing work. Jumpstarts and tire changes are probably one of the most demanded wrecker services in a day.
Light duty towing-light duty towing includes junk cars, vans, and small to mid-sized trucks. A junk car that is a result of an auto accident is immediately attended to in order to avoid road blockage and further accidents. Illegally parked vehicles also fall under light duty towing (depending on the road regulations of the area). Light duty towing also includes transportation of motorcycles that often require special equipment that will load and unload the vehicle without damaging it.
Medium and Heavy duty towing-this towing service covers recovery missions of large vehicles such as trucks and trailers. Wrecker services are expected to have been technically trained in such situations and perform with utmost precaution for the safety of everyone in the area. This includes strategic planning in the revival of vehicles on dangerous terrain. This service is also available 24 hours a day for almost, if not, all wrecker service companies.
Impound, towing, and storage for municipalities-most wrecker service companies work with their local municipality in road and traffic management. Since they usually have enough space for storing impounded vehicles like cars, motor homes, trucks, and motorcycles, wrecker services are also approached for storage lien auctions for vehicles that are not claimed within the period prescribed by law. Auctioned vehicles are sometimes put up on their company websites to give interested buyers a chance to check it out in advance.
Special Services-not all wrecker services provide special services like aircraft recovery and disaster response. This is because the service requires special equipment and additional training for the staff. Big wrecker service vendors are the ones who usually have this offer, especially those who have been around for more than 20 years. Nevertheless, it's always good to know that wrecker service companies can be trusted to help out in such situations.
When looking for a reliable towing and wrecker service company, make sure their staff have had sufficient and continuous training in the services they provide, especially those that involve accidents and disasters. Most vendors already have their own websites and many review sites can help you choose the right one. For wrecker service needs around the areas of Tampa, try our E and E Towing.
Jumpstarts, tire changes, and lockouts-these services are usually available for 24 hours. In case you were wondering, a lockout or tag out is a safety measure on the road which ensures that dangerous machines are properly shut off and not started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or servicing work. Jumpstarts and tire changes are probably one of the most demanded wrecker services in a day.
Light duty towing-light duty towing includes junk cars, vans, and small to mid-sized trucks. A junk car that is a result of an auto accident is immediately attended to in order to avoid road blockage and further accidents. Illegally parked vehicles also fall under light duty towing (depending on the road regulations of the area). Light duty towing also includes transportation of motorcycles that often require special equipment that will load and unload the vehicle without damaging it.
Medium and Heavy duty towing-this towing service covers recovery missions of large vehicles such as trucks and trailers. Wrecker services are expected to have been technically trained in such situations and perform with utmost precaution for the safety of everyone in the area. This includes strategic planning in the revival of vehicles on dangerous terrain. This service is also available 24 hours a day for almost, if not, all wrecker service companies.
Impound, towing, and storage for municipalities-most wrecker service companies work with their local municipality in road and traffic management. Since they usually have enough space for storing impounded vehicles like cars, motor homes, trucks, and motorcycles, wrecker services are also approached for storage lien auctions for vehicles that are not claimed within the period prescribed by law. Auctioned vehicles are sometimes put up on their company websites to give interested buyers a chance to check it out in advance.
Special Services-not all wrecker services provide special services like aircraft recovery and disaster response. This is because the service requires special equipment and additional training for the staff. Big wrecker service vendors are the ones who usually have this offer, especially those who have been around for more than 20 years. Nevertheless, it's always good to know that wrecker service companies can be trusted to help out in such situations.
When looking for a reliable towing and wrecker service company, make sure their staff have had sufficient and continuous training in the services they provide, especially those that involve accidents and disasters. Most vendors already have their own websites and many review sites can help you choose the right one. For wrecker service needs around the areas of Tampa, try our E and E Towing.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Driver rams vehicle at tow lot: Police
Driver rams vehicle at tow lot: Police
Picking up a car from the impound lot can be frustrating. To hear Fairfax City police tell it, though, a woman took things well past too far on Monday afternoon.
At 4:39 p.m., an employee at Henry's Wrecker Service 10401 Eaton Place called to report that after the driver had paid a towing fee, she rammed the car into another vehicle, which yielded an estimated $1,500 damage to an entrance gate.
“Apparently she was angry,” said Officer Lynn Coulter, a police spokeswoman.
Coulter said the driver was a friend of the car’s owner. No arrests were reported as of 1 p.m. today.
Things can get tense at the lots.
“I had a guy almost run me over 10 years ago,” Coulter said.
And she was in uniform.
James W. Smith, manager of the facility, declined to comment specifically on the case. But he said he understands, up to a point, why drivers get so frustrated:
“My, God yes," he said. "You come out in the morning, and your vehicle is gone. You’re expecting to go to work, and your chariot is not there.”
But he also sees people go overboard.
"I have been hit at, I've been spit at, I've had weapons pulled on me," said Smith, a 20-year veteran of the business.
Smith said he had a customer service window placed low because when people bend over, he has found, they can’t spit as well.
He also tells his employees to treat everyone walking in the door like they’d want to be treated and, when possible, use humor.
"Patience is probably 99 percent of this business," he said. "Let’s face it: How many people drive by the tow yard and say, 'Let's stop by and say hello to the tow people'? It just doesn’t happen."
Picking up a car from the impound lot can be frustrating. To hear Fairfax City police tell it, though, a woman took things well past too far on Monday afternoon.
At 4:39 p.m., an employee at Henry's Wrecker Service 10401 Eaton Place called to report that after the driver had paid a towing fee, she rammed the car into another vehicle, which yielded an estimated $1,500 damage to an entrance gate.
“Apparently she was angry,” said Officer Lynn Coulter, a police spokeswoman.
Coulter said the driver was a friend of the car’s owner. No arrests were reported as of 1 p.m. today.
Things can get tense at the lots.
“I had a guy almost run me over 10 years ago,” Coulter said.
And she was in uniform.
James W. Smith, manager of the facility, declined to comment specifically on the case. But he said he understands, up to a point, why drivers get so frustrated:
“My, God yes," he said. "You come out in the morning, and your vehicle is gone. You’re expecting to go to work, and your chariot is not there.”
But he also sees people go overboard.
"I have been hit at, I've been spit at, I've had weapons pulled on me," said Smith, a 20-year veteran of the business.
Smith said he had a customer service window placed low because when people bend over, he has found, they can’t spit as well.
He also tells his employees to treat everyone walking in the door like they’d want to be treated and, when possible, use humor.
"Patience is probably 99 percent of this business," he said. "Let’s face it: How many people drive by the tow yard and say, 'Let's stop by and say hello to the tow people'? It just doesn’t happen."
Monday, August 30, 2010
Towing Services - Life Made Easy
Towing Services - Life Made Easy
Towing is a service that assists people when their vehicle breaks down in the middle of a motorway. Cars can also be towed away by towing companies lawfully or unlawfully. These companies enter into an agreement with the owner of a particular area. Any car found parking in that area is towed away by these towing services. People are usually over charged and their cars man handled, often resulting into damages.
What are the types of services offered by towing companies?
There are three basic types of services offered by the towing companies - Private Sector Service, Public/Municipal Service and Emergency services
Private Sector Service
A private sector service offers to move the disabled vehicles depending on the fleet of trucks under it. Private towing companies are used by people who own apartments and complexes with parking spaces. People parking on these spots with the permission of the owner have their car towed away by private towing companies on behalf of the apartment owner. The cars are then towed into the impound lot of the towing agency which is where they are kept until the owner of the vehicle pays up the fines. These impounds are equipped with hi-tech security locks and fences.
To avoid your car being towed away by such towing companies, make sure that the spot that you choose for parking is not a reserved area. Look for signboards asking drivers to keep clear.
Emergency Services
Having your car stuck in the middle of a road on a busy highway is something no driver would want. However, this can happen to any driver. Fortunately, emergency services are now available to help these drivers with their non-functioning cars. These services tow the car away to a side of the road where it can be attended to with ease and without inconveniencing the other drivers on the motorway.
Public Sector Services
Parking fines and traffic violations are an important source of revenue for the government. These funds are directed towards the welfare of the city and road maintenance works. These services function with a traffic police officer reporting an illegally parked vehicle to the base station. The station then contacts the towing company who dispatch a towing truck to the location. The owner of the vehicle has to collect the car from the impound after paying the penalty.
Towing is a service that assists people when their vehicle breaks down in the middle of a motorway. Cars can also be towed away by towing companies lawfully or unlawfully. These companies enter into an agreement with the owner of a particular area. Any car found parking in that area is towed away by these towing services. People are usually over charged and their cars man handled, often resulting into damages.
What are the types of services offered by towing companies?
There are three basic types of services offered by the towing companies - Private Sector Service, Public/Municipal Service and Emergency services
Private Sector Service
A private sector service offers to move the disabled vehicles depending on the fleet of trucks under it. Private towing companies are used by people who own apartments and complexes with parking spaces. People parking on these spots with the permission of the owner have their car towed away by private towing companies on behalf of the apartment owner. The cars are then towed into the impound lot of the towing agency which is where they are kept until the owner of the vehicle pays up the fines. These impounds are equipped with hi-tech security locks and fences.
To avoid your car being towed away by such towing companies, make sure that the spot that you choose for parking is not a reserved area. Look for signboards asking drivers to keep clear.
Emergency Services
Having your car stuck in the middle of a road on a busy highway is something no driver would want. However, this can happen to any driver. Fortunately, emergency services are now available to help these drivers with their non-functioning cars. These services tow the car away to a side of the road where it can be attended to with ease and without inconveniencing the other drivers on the motorway.
Public Sector Services
Parking fines and traffic violations are an important source of revenue for the government. These funds are directed towards the welfare of the city and road maintenance works. These services function with a traffic police officer reporting an illegally parked vehicle to the base station. The station then contacts the towing company who dispatch a towing truck to the location. The owner of the vehicle has to collect the car from the impound after paying the penalty.
South Carolina Man Faces Charges after Assaulting Towing Company Owner
South Carolina Man Faces Charges after Assaulting Towing Company Owner
A Ladson, South Carolina, man was arrested Friday, August 20, after he reportedly assaulted the owner of a Newberry County towing company that towed his damaged vehicle and trailer. Jason Randolph Morris, 25, was involved in an accident on August 17. His sport utility vehicle and trailer were towed from the scene by Louis Wicker Wrecker Service, according to news reports.
Morris’ vehicle was repaired at the towing service that day so Morris could drive the vehicle. He returned to the towing service on Friday morning, reports said. The owner of the towing company, who was not named in reports, told Morris he could not claim the trailer until he paid the towing bill.
Morris then left the property, and the company owner left to get breakfast, reports said. When the owner returned he saw Morris attempting to leave with the trailer attached to his SUV. The owner confronted Morris, who, according to Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, struck the towing company owner several times with his fists. Morris then took the owner into the woods and attempted to tie him up, but the owner broke free. Morris then forced the owner into his vehicle and drove him to his house but then returned to the owner’s property where he again struck the owner and warned him not to contact law enforcement. Morris then left with the trailer, reports said.
Since the trailer was damaged, Morris dropped it off on S. C. Highway 773. A bulletin to be on the lookout for Morris was issued by Newberry authorities. After 2:00 p.m. that day, police in Charleston discovered an SUV matching Morris’ in the parking lot of a strip club. Police entered the club and apprehended Morris who reports said will be charged with first-degree burglary, kidnapping, carjacking and grand larceny.
A Ladson, South Carolina, man was arrested Friday, August 20, after he reportedly assaulted the owner of a Newberry County towing company that towed his damaged vehicle and trailer. Jason Randolph Morris, 25, was involved in an accident on August 17. His sport utility vehicle and trailer were towed from the scene by Louis Wicker Wrecker Service, according to news reports.
Morris’ vehicle was repaired at the towing service that day so Morris could drive the vehicle. He returned to the towing service on Friday morning, reports said. The owner of the towing company, who was not named in reports, told Morris he could not claim the trailer until he paid the towing bill.
Morris then left the property, and the company owner left to get breakfast, reports said. When the owner returned he saw Morris attempting to leave with the trailer attached to his SUV. The owner confronted Morris, who, according to Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, struck the towing company owner several times with his fists. Morris then took the owner into the woods and attempted to tie him up, but the owner broke free. Morris then forced the owner into his vehicle and drove him to his house but then returned to the owner’s property where he again struck the owner and warned him not to contact law enforcement. Morris then left with the trailer, reports said.
Since the trailer was damaged, Morris dropped it off on S. C. Highway 773. A bulletin to be on the lookout for Morris was issued by Newberry authorities. After 2:00 p.m. that day, police in Charleston discovered an SUV matching Morris’ in the parking lot of a strip club. Police entered the club and apprehended Morris who reports said will be charged with first-degree burglary, kidnapping, carjacking and grand larceny.
Car Reveals No Clues in Case
Brooke County Sheriff Richard Ferguson communicates with a dive team during efforts to recover a vehicle found Thursday at the bottom of the Ohio River near the Fort Steuben Bridge.
A vehicle found at the bottom of the Ohio River does not appear to hold any answers in the search for a Beaver County, Pa., woman who vanished more than three years ago after visiting a local casino.
As it turns out, getting the car to relinquish any secrets at all may prove a challenge, according to Brooke County Sheriff Richard Ferguson - its license plates are missing, as is the dashboard label that should provide the car's vehicle identification number.
Divers found the car Thursday afternoon about 20 feet from the Ohio shore near the Fort Steuben Bridge while doing environmental research in preparation for the bridge's demolition in the coming months.
Ferguson said a wrecker from Nick's Auto Sales in Weirton hauled the vehicle from the river at about 11 a.m. Friday after a lengthy, difficult recovery effort.
Upon discovering the car, Ferguson said, authorities initially hoped the find would shed some light on the disappearance of 57-year-old Karen Adams, who hasn't been seen or heard from since she left Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort on March 12, 2007. She was driving a maroon, 2005 Suzuki Forenza.
Ferguson said the car pulled from the river is a four-door Pontiac T1000 of indeterminate year. He said there's little doubt the VIN was removed deliberately, leading him to believe the vehicle may have been stolen. He said it is hard to say at this point, but the car could have been in the river as long at 10-15 years.
Snyder Towing of Wellsburg brought the vehicle to the sheriff's department impound facility, where Ferguson said investigators will begin combing through it "as soon as possible" to determine why the car ended up in the river.
"Right now, there's so much muck and debris in the interior," he said, adding the recovery effort turned up no sign of human remains. "I just hope there's no bones in it."
Ferguson praised Steubenville police and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department for their cooperation in the recovery effort, as well as that of the dive team who found the car. He said divers were in the process of relocating mussels native to the area near the bridge, whose habitats will be disturbed when the span is demolished.
New sonar equipment prompted Beaver County authorities to resume the search for Adams, who reportedly left the casino about 3 a.m. the day of her disappearance. At 4:30 a.m., someone accessed her cell phone voicemail. There's been no activity on her phone or credit cards since. Recent searches of ponds and creeks along Adams' likely route home to Independence Township, Pa., have been unsuccessful.
Adams' story drew national attention when it was featured on the CBS drama "Without a Trace" in February 2008. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes.
A vehicle found at the bottom of the Ohio River does not appear to hold any answers in the search for a Beaver County, Pa., woman who vanished more than three years ago after visiting a local casino.
As it turns out, getting the car to relinquish any secrets at all may prove a challenge, according to Brooke County Sheriff Richard Ferguson - its license plates are missing, as is the dashboard label that should provide the car's vehicle identification number.
Divers found the car Thursday afternoon about 20 feet from the Ohio shore near the Fort Steuben Bridge while doing environmental research in preparation for the bridge's demolition in the coming months.
Ferguson said a wrecker from Nick's Auto Sales in Weirton hauled the vehicle from the river at about 11 a.m. Friday after a lengthy, difficult recovery effort.
Upon discovering the car, Ferguson said, authorities initially hoped the find would shed some light on the disappearance of 57-year-old Karen Adams, who hasn't been seen or heard from since she left Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort on March 12, 2007. She was driving a maroon, 2005 Suzuki Forenza.
Ferguson said the car pulled from the river is a four-door Pontiac T1000 of indeterminate year. He said there's little doubt the VIN was removed deliberately, leading him to believe the vehicle may have been stolen. He said it is hard to say at this point, but the car could have been in the river as long at 10-15 years.
Snyder Towing of Wellsburg brought the vehicle to the sheriff's department impound facility, where Ferguson said investigators will begin combing through it "as soon as possible" to determine why the car ended up in the river.
"Right now, there's so much muck and debris in the interior," he said, adding the recovery effort turned up no sign of human remains. "I just hope there's no bones in it."
Ferguson praised Steubenville police and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department for their cooperation in the recovery effort, as well as that of the dive team who found the car. He said divers were in the process of relocating mussels native to the area near the bridge, whose habitats will be disturbed when the span is demolished.
New sonar equipment prompted Beaver County authorities to resume the search for Adams, who reportedly left the casino about 3 a.m. the day of her disappearance. At 4:30 a.m., someone accessed her cell phone voicemail. There's been no activity on her phone or credit cards since. Recent searches of ponds and creeks along Adams' likely route home to Independence Township, Pa., have been unsuccessful.
Adams' story drew national attention when it was featured on the CBS drama "Without a Trace" in February 2008. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes.
Teens' Fatal Wreck
Chief Chris Brock from the Otway Fire Department says the fire department was dispatched to crash at 8:10 p.m. Saturday night. When crews arrived on scene they saw a 4-door Honda with four teens inside and a 4-door Ford Explorer which was towing a boat behind it in an offset head-on collision.
Chief Brock says the Honda appears to have been coming off of Straits Road, trying to enter Harker's Island Road and the Ford Explorer was coming westbound up Harker's Island Road when the crash occurred. He says the force of the crash separated the Explorer and the boat and the Honda went into a ditch.
He says the two males in the front seat of the Honda were dead on arrival, but the two females in the back of the Honda were alert. In the Explorer, he says one female with non-life threatening injuries was taken to PCMH. He says everyone was wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
Wreck responders told NewsChannel12 they got a call around 9PM on Saturday to the intersection of Harker's Island Road and Straits Road.
Responders said they heard two teenage fatalities called out on the radio, possibly a third. Wreckers said one vehicle, towing a boat, collided with another vehicle. Both vehicles were destroyed.
Troopers said three teens were airlifted to Wilmington.
Highway Patrol was not available to verify names or ages at the time of publication.
Chief Brock says the Honda appears to have been coming off of Straits Road, trying to enter Harker's Island Road and the Ford Explorer was coming westbound up Harker's Island Road when the crash occurred. He says the force of the crash separated the Explorer and the boat and the Honda went into a ditch.
He says the two males in the front seat of the Honda were dead on arrival, but the two females in the back of the Honda were alert. In the Explorer, he says one female with non-life threatening injuries was taken to PCMH. He says everyone was wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
Wreck responders told NewsChannel12 they got a call around 9PM on Saturday to the intersection of Harker's Island Road and Straits Road.
Responders said they heard two teenage fatalities called out on the radio, possibly a third. Wreckers said one vehicle, towing a boat, collided with another vehicle. Both vehicles were destroyed.
Troopers said three teens were airlifted to Wilmington.
Highway Patrol was not available to verify names or ages at the time of publication.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Shark Towed off the beach
CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WECT) – A late night beach visitor to Carolina Beach got the attention of police and a local tow truck company. Some people are upset that not enough was done to try and save the shark.
An 8 foot Sand Tiger Shark washed ashore on Carolina Beach around 11:30 Monday night.
Police were on the scene for crowd control only. They did not call for an expert from the aquarium to come and get the shark. Instead, they called a tow truck to come pick it up.
15-year-old Evan Pye said he and several others tried to save the shark, but it kept turning on its back. He also told us that police were yelling at him and others to stay away.
Paul Barrington, with the aquarium at Fort Fisher, says it’s likely the shark was going to die even if an aquarium official were to come out to the beach. He says once a shark has beached itself, it only takes about ten minutes before the shark dies. According to Pye, the shark was still alive, even when a tow truck transported the fish to the town’s maintenance yard.
Barrington believes the shark was suffering from trauma around its mouth. It’s likely the shark was reeled in recently by a fisherman, and after the fight, it lost all of its energy.
An 8 foot Sand Tiger Shark washed ashore on Carolina Beach around 11:30 Monday night.
Police were on the scene for crowd control only. They did not call for an expert from the aquarium to come and get the shark. Instead, they called a tow truck to come pick it up.
15-year-old Evan Pye said he and several others tried to save the shark, but it kept turning on its back. He also told us that police were yelling at him and others to stay away.
Paul Barrington, with the aquarium at Fort Fisher, says it’s likely the shark was going to die even if an aquarium official were to come out to the beach. He says once a shark has beached itself, it only takes about ten minutes before the shark dies. According to Pye, the shark was still alive, even when a tow truck transported the fish to the town’s maintenance yard.
Barrington believes the shark was suffering from trauma around its mouth. It’s likely the shark was reeled in recently by a fisherman, and after the fight, it lost all of its energy.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Towing Companies Protest City Agreement August 24, 2010
Towing Companies Protest City Agreement August 24, 2010
Kenya Hudson Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. told council members yesterday that wreckers are protesting a recently enacted towing policy, which lowers towing service fees.
Three tow truck companies' refusal to remove a city-owned vehicle yesterday is the first casualty in a protest over the Jackson City Council's recently enacted wrecker-rotation policy, which caps the fees for towing services inside the city limits.
"We have a dump truck that was disabled, and every (wrecker service) we called said they're on strike," Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. told the Jackson Free Press after the Monday work session.
Jackson Public Works Director Dan Gaillet said the dump truck, which broke down near South Jackson asphalt supplier APAC-Mississippi, was full of asphalt--about 17,000 pounds of it destined for a street paving project in Ward 1, according to city spokesman Chris Mims. Gaillet said that asphalt only has a transportation life of only a few hours, and couldn't be used for the paving project.
"The truck sat there for a few hours. Once it loses its heat, it's worthless. I'd give it two hours at the most," Gaillet said, adding that the long wait turned the asphalt into a 17,000 pound "speed bump."
Mims said APAC-Mississippi "generously" decided not to charge the city for the lost merchandise, but added that the city has yet to work out its continuing issue with local wrecker services, and in the meantime, the city does not own a towing rig capable of hauling a commercial-grade truck.
Three local wrecker-service companies, so far, refuse to tow city-owned large commercial vehicles after the city lowered towing fees at an Aug. 10 meeting. At the time, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes argued that city residents could not afford exorbitant towing prices and praised the rotation policy, which limited most towing services to a standard $75 fee.
But Trey Ward, owner of Ward's Wrecker Service, said the three wrecker services refused to tow the city asphalt truck out of protest against the revised city towing ordinance.
There's so many legal loopholes and things in there that regulate how much we can charge that nobody's going to go after it--not until they change the ordinance," Ward said. "We're all banded together on this."
Along with Ward's Wrecker Service, Hayle's Towing and Recovery and Hall's Towing Services provide heavy-duty towing jobs for the city. They are also the only companies in the area capable of moving large vehicles.
The new agreement lowers towing fees for cars and light trucks from $100 to $75 and caps fees on heavy-duty trucks, those weighing more than 15,000 pounds, at $185. City-owned cars, vans, mopeds and motorcycles have a $45 fee, while city-owned heavy duty trucks between 8,000 pounds and 15,000 pounds cost $75.
The revised fees are so low that wrecker companies would lose money, Ward argued.
"A lot of these little, small wrecker services out there aren't realizing this, so the big ones got together and said, 'Look, either they're going to change it, or we're not going to use the heavy-duties,'" Ward said.
After Johnson's briefing yesterday, members of the city council began to discuss the city purchasing its own towing rig capable of hauling trucks in excess of 15,000 pounds, but prices average $177,000 to $400,000 for 2006-year-model towing rigs of that caliber. The city's tight 2010-2011 operating budget has a $10.6 million shortfall from the prior year, and Johnson would not speculate on the city's ability to invest in such a purchase at this time.
The city could seek towing services outside the city, but Johnson told the Jackson Free Press yesterday that "many of these (striking) wrecker services" that could handle the stricken dump truck "are already outside the city."
Council President Frank Bluntson suggested to the council during the Monday work session that it "may be time to look at" the rotation policy, but did not specify when that would be.
Kenya Hudson Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. told council members yesterday that wreckers are protesting a recently enacted towing policy, which lowers towing service fees.
Three tow truck companies' refusal to remove a city-owned vehicle yesterday is the first casualty in a protest over the Jackson City Council's recently enacted wrecker-rotation policy, which caps the fees for towing services inside the city limits.
"We have a dump truck that was disabled, and every (wrecker service) we called said they're on strike," Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. told the Jackson Free Press after the Monday work session.
Jackson Public Works Director Dan Gaillet said the dump truck, which broke down near South Jackson asphalt supplier APAC-Mississippi, was full of asphalt--about 17,000 pounds of it destined for a street paving project in Ward 1, according to city spokesman Chris Mims. Gaillet said that asphalt only has a transportation life of only a few hours, and couldn't be used for the paving project.
"The truck sat there for a few hours. Once it loses its heat, it's worthless. I'd give it two hours at the most," Gaillet said, adding that the long wait turned the asphalt into a 17,000 pound "speed bump."
Mims said APAC-Mississippi "generously" decided not to charge the city for the lost merchandise, but added that the city has yet to work out its continuing issue with local wrecker services, and in the meantime, the city does not own a towing rig capable of hauling a commercial-grade truck.
Three local wrecker-service companies, so far, refuse to tow city-owned large commercial vehicles after the city lowered towing fees at an Aug. 10 meeting. At the time, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes argued that city residents could not afford exorbitant towing prices and praised the rotation policy, which limited most towing services to a standard $75 fee.
But Trey Ward, owner of Ward's Wrecker Service, said the three wrecker services refused to tow the city asphalt truck out of protest against the revised city towing ordinance.
There's so many legal loopholes and things in there that regulate how much we can charge that nobody's going to go after it--not until they change the ordinance," Ward said. "We're all banded together on this."
Along with Ward's Wrecker Service, Hayle's Towing and Recovery and Hall's Towing Services provide heavy-duty towing jobs for the city. They are also the only companies in the area capable of moving large vehicles.
The new agreement lowers towing fees for cars and light trucks from $100 to $75 and caps fees on heavy-duty trucks, those weighing more than 15,000 pounds, at $185. City-owned cars, vans, mopeds and motorcycles have a $45 fee, while city-owned heavy duty trucks between 8,000 pounds and 15,000 pounds cost $75.
The revised fees are so low that wrecker companies would lose money, Ward argued.
"A lot of these little, small wrecker services out there aren't realizing this, so the big ones got together and said, 'Look, either they're going to change it, or we're not going to use the heavy-duties,'" Ward said.
After Johnson's briefing yesterday, members of the city council began to discuss the city purchasing its own towing rig capable of hauling trucks in excess of 15,000 pounds, but prices average $177,000 to $400,000 for 2006-year-model towing rigs of that caliber. The city's tight 2010-2011 operating budget has a $10.6 million shortfall from the prior year, and Johnson would not speculate on the city's ability to invest in such a purchase at this time.
The city could seek towing services outside the city, but Johnson told the Jackson Free Press yesterday that "many of these (striking) wrecker services" that could handle the stricken dump truck "are already outside the city."
Council President Frank Bluntson suggested to the council during the Monday work session that it "may be time to look at" the rotation policy, but did not specify when that would be.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tow Companies Refusing City Business
Tow Companies Refusing City Business
August 23, 2010
Three local wrecker-service companies are refusing to tow city owned large commercial vehicles after the city lowered towing fees at an Aug. 10 City Council meeting. Trey Ward, owner of Ward’s Wrecker Service, confirmed that the three wrecker services are refusing to tow a city asphalt truck out of protest against the revised city towing ordinance.
“There’s so many legal loopholes and things in there that regulate how much we can charge that nobody’s going to go after it—not til they change the ordinance,” Ward said. “We’re all banded together on this.”
Along with Hayle’s Towing and Recovery and Hall’s Towing Services, Ward’s handles heavy-duty towing jobs for the city. On Aug. 10, the Council voted 4-3 to lower towing fees for cars and light trucks from $100 to $75 and to cap fees on heavy-duty trucks, those weighing more than 15 tons, at $185. The revised fees are so low that wrecker companies would lose money taking calls, Ward argued.
“A lot of these little, small wrecker services out there aren’t realizing this, so the big ones got together and said, ‘Look, either they’re going to change it, or we’re not going to use the heavy-duties,’” Ward said.
August 23, 2010
Three local wrecker-service companies are refusing to tow city owned large commercial vehicles after the city lowered towing fees at an Aug. 10 City Council meeting. Trey Ward, owner of Ward’s Wrecker Service, confirmed that the three wrecker services are refusing to tow a city asphalt truck out of protest against the revised city towing ordinance.
“There’s so many legal loopholes and things in there that regulate how much we can charge that nobody’s going to go after it—not til they change the ordinance,” Ward said. “We’re all banded together on this.”
Along with Hayle’s Towing and Recovery and Hall’s Towing Services, Ward’s handles heavy-duty towing jobs for the city. On Aug. 10, the Council voted 4-3 to lower towing fees for cars and light trucks from $100 to $75 and to cap fees on heavy-duty trucks, those weighing more than 15 tons, at $185. The revised fees are so low that wrecker companies would lose money taking calls, Ward argued.
“A lot of these little, small wrecker services out there aren’t realizing this, so the big ones got together and said, ‘Look, either they’re going to change it, or we’re not going to use the heavy-duties,’” Ward said.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Man accused of tying up wrecker service employee in custody
Man accused of tying up wrecker service employee in custody
Police: Sumter teen killed by friend in "non-confrontational" shootingAlvin Greene plays first ever round of golfFriend: Duley argued about bath before sons diedFive wounded in two unrelated weekend shootingsPolice: W. Columbia man kills ex-wife's boyfriend, then selfHead ball coach less than pleased with Garcia, ShawNC man dies while tubing with family on SC lakeSantee Cooper: Saving rare fish could cost $100MTropical Storm Frank forms off Mexico's coastPolice look for suspect in deadly SC shootingNEWBERRY COUNTY, SC (WIS) - A man Newberry County deputies say tied up an employee at a wrecker service while trying to get his car back is in custody.
According to Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster, Jason Randolph Morris, 25, wrecked his car on Interstate 26 Thursday night and had his car was towed.
Foster says Morris showed up at Louis's Wrecker Service around 4:00a.m. to get his car, but an employee there told him it was too early morning to get his car.
Foster says the two got into an argument then Morris tied up the employee and took off in his car.
Morris is being charged with first degree burglary, kidnapping, carjacking and grand larceny.
Police: Sumter teen killed by friend in "non-confrontational" shootingAlvin Greene plays first ever round of golfFriend: Duley argued about bath before sons diedFive wounded in two unrelated weekend shootingsPolice: W. Columbia man kills ex-wife's boyfriend, then selfHead ball coach less than pleased with Garcia, ShawNC man dies while tubing with family on SC lakeSantee Cooper: Saving rare fish could cost $100MTropical Storm Frank forms off Mexico's coastPolice look for suspect in deadly SC shootingNEWBERRY COUNTY, SC (WIS) - A man Newberry County deputies say tied up an employee at a wrecker service while trying to get his car back is in custody.
According to Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster, Jason Randolph Morris, 25, wrecked his car on Interstate 26 Thursday night and had his car was towed.
Foster says Morris showed up at Louis's Wrecker Service around 4:00a.m. to get his car, but an employee there told him it was too early morning to get his car.
Foster says the two got into an argument then Morris tied up the employee and took off in his car.
Morris is being charged with first degree burglary, kidnapping, carjacking and grand larceny.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Ladson man accused of assaulting wrecker operator
Ladson man accused of assaulting wrecker operator
CHARLESTON A Ladson man accused of assaulting and tying up a Newberry County wrecker operator Friday morning was captured hours later by Charleston police in a King Street strip club.
Jason Randolph Morris, 25, of 257 Frankie Lane will be charged with first-degree burglary, kidnapping, carjacking and grand larceny, said Newberry County sheriff's Maj. Todd Johnson.
Morris was in a collision Tuesday on Interstate 26. His Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle and a trailer were towed away from the scene by Louis Wicker Wrecker Service, according to a release from the Newberry County Sheriff's Office.
The wrecker service repaired the truck so that Morris could go home Tuesday, but the trailer was still damaged and remained at the towing company, the release said.
On Friday morning, Morris allegedly went to the towing company lot on Wicker Road. The owner saw Morris on the property and told him he could not get the trailer until he paid the towing bill, the release said. Morris left the property, and the owner went to breakfast.
When the owner returned, he saw Morris about to drive off with the trailer hitched to the SUV. The owner confronted Morris, who struck the owner with his fists several times, according to the release.
Morris allegedly then took the owner into a woods, where he was going to tie him up, but the owner broke free. Morris then forced the owner into his SUV and drove him first to his house and then back to the wrecker service property, the release said. He punched the owner again and warned him not to contact law enforcement and then drove away with the trailer.
Because the trailer was damaged, Morris dropped it off on S.C. Highway 773, the release said.
Newberry authorities put out a be-on-the-lookout bulletin for Morris, warning that he was a dangerous suspect, to be approached with extreme caution.
Shortly after 2 p.m., Charleston police were told Morris might be in the area of Upper King Street. Officers spotted a white Ford Expedition SUV that matched the description of Morris' vehicle in the parking lot of the 1337 King strip club, formerly known as the Wild Joker. “We went in and captured him without incident,” said Charleston police Sgt. John Lightes.
Newberry County deputies came to Charleston Friday afternoon, Johnson said. Morris will be held in the Newberry County Jail pending a bond hearing.
CHARLESTON A Ladson man accused of assaulting and tying up a Newberry County wrecker operator Friday morning was captured hours later by Charleston police in a King Street strip club.
Jason Randolph Morris, 25, of 257 Frankie Lane will be charged with first-degree burglary, kidnapping, carjacking and grand larceny, said Newberry County sheriff's Maj. Todd Johnson.
Morris was in a collision Tuesday on Interstate 26. His Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle and a trailer were towed away from the scene by Louis Wicker Wrecker Service, according to a release from the Newberry County Sheriff's Office.
The wrecker service repaired the truck so that Morris could go home Tuesday, but the trailer was still damaged and remained at the towing company, the release said.
On Friday morning, Morris allegedly went to the towing company lot on Wicker Road. The owner saw Morris on the property and told him he could not get the trailer until he paid the towing bill, the release said. Morris left the property, and the owner went to breakfast.
When the owner returned, he saw Morris about to drive off with the trailer hitched to the SUV. The owner confronted Morris, who struck the owner with his fists several times, according to the release.
Morris allegedly then took the owner into a woods, where he was going to tie him up, but the owner broke free. Morris then forced the owner into his SUV and drove him first to his house and then back to the wrecker service property, the release said. He punched the owner again and warned him not to contact law enforcement and then drove away with the trailer.
Because the trailer was damaged, Morris dropped it off on S.C. Highway 773, the release said.
Newberry authorities put out a be-on-the-lookout bulletin for Morris, warning that he was a dangerous suspect, to be approached with extreme caution.
Shortly after 2 p.m., Charleston police were told Morris might be in the area of Upper King Street. Officers spotted a white Ford Expedition SUV that matched the description of Morris' vehicle in the parking lot of the 1337 King strip club, formerly known as the Wild Joker. “We went in and captured him without incident,” said Charleston police Sgt. John Lightes.
Newberry County deputies came to Charleston Friday afternoon, Johnson said. Morris will be held in the Newberry County Jail pending a bond hearing.
Statesville, Troutman will use new rules for tow trucks at wreck/breakdown scenes.
Statesville, Troutman will use new rules for tow trucks at wreck/breakdown scenes.
By Dave Vieser
Special Correspondent
Posted: Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010
New policies that spell out specific rotation procedures and services required for local towing companies, along with the maximum fees they can charge, have been implemented by Statesville and Troutman.
The new regulations will be used when local police require a tow truck at the scene of an accident or breakdown and the vehicle operator or owner does not have, or is unable to indicate, a towing company preference.
Officials in both municipalities indicated that, while most of the local towing or "wrecker" companies had in the past provided quality services at reasonable costs, the regulations still needed to be updated.
"We had an incident not long ago in town whereby a female operator's car broke down and she left it on Wagner Street," Troutman Police Chief Matthew Selves said. "Under our existing wrecker policy at the time, the county dispatched a wrecker company off their rotation list which provided less than satisfactory performance. This new policy is an effort to prevent a reoccurrence of such an incident."
The policies are virtually identical, with the exception of minor variances in the fees towing companies can charge.
The new policy "forms an agreement with the towing services so they know what is expected of them and what consequences could be imposed for failure to comply," said Statesville Police Capt. Joseph J. Barone.
Some highlights include:
Towing/wrecker companies must respond with 30 minutes and be available on a 24/7 basis.
Towing companies are required to respond to at least 75 percent of police requests.
The wrecker company is responsible for clearing the roadway of debris at an accident scene (not including hazardous materials or spills covered by the responding agency).
The company must be available during regular business hours and by appointment on weekends to release vehicles to owners or the police.
Clear signs indicating company name and address must be displayed on tow trucks.
The maximum towing fees that may be charged are:
Non-collision during standard business hours: $125.
Non-collision after hours, and on weekends: $150; $155 in Statesville.
Crash towing service during standard business hours: $150; $155 in Statesville.
Crash towing after hours, and on weekends: $175.
Daily Storage: $25 outside; $40 inside.
Additional fees are permitted when tow companies are required to use heavy duty wreckers or other special equipment for incidents such as an overturned vehicle.
The new policies also contain a specific schedule of demerits that will be applied when a company fails to perform in a satisfactory manner. Any company accumulating six demerits will be removed from the rotation list for 90 days. In addition, towing companies responding to scenes when not called by police may be suspended or removed from the rotation lists.
By Dave Vieser
Special Correspondent
Posted: Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010
New policies that spell out specific rotation procedures and services required for local towing companies, along with the maximum fees they can charge, have been implemented by Statesville and Troutman.
The new regulations will be used when local police require a tow truck at the scene of an accident or breakdown and the vehicle operator or owner does not have, or is unable to indicate, a towing company preference.
Officials in both municipalities indicated that, while most of the local towing or "wrecker" companies had in the past provided quality services at reasonable costs, the regulations still needed to be updated.
"We had an incident not long ago in town whereby a female operator's car broke down and she left it on Wagner Street," Troutman Police Chief Matthew Selves said. "Under our existing wrecker policy at the time, the county dispatched a wrecker company off their rotation list which provided less than satisfactory performance. This new policy is an effort to prevent a reoccurrence of such an incident."
The policies are virtually identical, with the exception of minor variances in the fees towing companies can charge.
The new policy "forms an agreement with the towing services so they know what is expected of them and what consequences could be imposed for failure to comply," said Statesville Police Capt. Joseph J. Barone.
Some highlights include:
Towing/wrecker companies must respond with 30 minutes and be available on a 24/7 basis.
Towing companies are required to respond to at least 75 percent of police requests.
The wrecker company is responsible for clearing the roadway of debris at an accident scene (not including hazardous materials or spills covered by the responding agency).
The company must be available during regular business hours and by appointment on weekends to release vehicles to owners or the police.
Clear signs indicating company name and address must be displayed on tow trucks.
The maximum towing fees that may be charged are:
Non-collision during standard business hours: $125.
Non-collision after hours, and on weekends: $150; $155 in Statesville.
Crash towing service during standard business hours: $150; $155 in Statesville.
Crash towing after hours, and on weekends: $175.
Daily Storage: $25 outside; $40 inside.
Additional fees are permitted when tow companies are required to use heavy duty wreckers or other special equipment for incidents such as an overturned vehicle.
The new policies also contain a specific schedule of demerits that will be applied when a company fails to perform in a satisfactory manner. Any company accumulating six demerits will be removed from the rotation list for 90 days. In addition, towing companies responding to scenes when not called by police may be suspended or removed from the rotation lists.
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