News Share TRAA Advocates for Towers on ATA’s Towing Task Force
The Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) has secured a seat to represent towers on a Towing Task Force that was formed by the American Trucking Association (ATA). The Towing Task Force plans to release resources for truckers on how to prevent becoming a victim of what they believe is billing fraud. Second, they plan to introduce two pieces of model legislation in conjunction with the American Property and Casualty Insurance Association and the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. According to Jennifer Wieroniey, Executive Director of ATA’s National Accounting & Finance Council, “The first bill would provide more protections for consumers against towing companies through tools such as regulating when a tow can occur and mandating more transparent billing practices, like the use of a rate sheet and itemized invoices... The second bill would outlaw ‘runners’ who solicit their tow services at the scene of an accident without being requested by law enforcement or any parties involved in the accident.As the national towing association, TRAA will be the tower’s advocate on ATA’s Towing Task Force. Source: traaonline.com
Kansas City Tow Truck Operator Sues Police Commissioners Kansas City tow truck operator Allen “Jay” Bloodworth sued the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners over an illegal search, alleging that officers violated his civil rights in March of 2019. While executing the search, officers killed his dog. His attorney, Ed Stump, said officers who showed up to locate a red 1995 Ford Ranger made their way into Bloodworth’s residence without knocking, which the warrant didn’t allow. Bloodworth filed the suit 3 months after a suit against him was dropped, which alleged that he had improperly towed dozens of vehicles from private property and forged required paperwork. At issue was the discovery of a recording in which a police union official appears to issue a threat while trying to retrieve a towed relative’s car. Source:joplinglobe.com/region/kansascity-tow-truck-operator-sues-over-2019search/article_722562fe-6fe3-5b5abd05-b990755dcc53.html
8 • May 2021 | Towman.com
Friends & Family Gather for
Nevada Tower Ryan Billotte
Vigil held for Ryan to bring awarness for Slow Down Move Over law.
On Friday, April 9, family and friends gathered to remember Ryan Billotte by holding a candlelight vigil for him and raising awareness of the move-over law. Billette was killed by a hit-and-run driver working on the shoulder of the 215 beltway just outside of Las Vegas. Outside of a church, Billotte’s wife, Becca Billotte said, “We want to
push the ‘slow down and move over’ movement. People just need to be more aware this can’t keep happening, they need to come home to their families we need them home.” Ryan Billotte leaves behind four stepchildren, all he helped raise and six grandchildren. Source: fox5vegas.com
Tow Truck Driver Fights Back to Defend Turf
Tow truck driver Terry Devers
Tow truck driver Terry Devers was assaulted in Fort Worth, Texas on March 15 by four people when he attempted to tow a vehicle that was illegally parked. The 4 suspects, who were purportedly part of a moblike crowd following the YouTube Canadian prankster group Nelk Boys, are currently sought after by police. Speaking about one of the persons involved, Devers said, “He wanted me to drop his car. I told him it would be $125. Or if he didn’t want to pay the $125 to drop, he could come pick it up
from the yard.” As a result of that confrontation, Devers was bloodied and beaten. “They busted my eye open. I had a bruise on my left shoulder, and they busted my forehead open,” he said. “They came over, they surrounded me, I guess they figured, ‘Oh, well he’s outnumbered. He’s going to drop the car.’ Well they had a different story coming to them, I wasn’t dropping the car.” Source: fox4news.com/news/fortworth-tow-truck-driver-assaulted
