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Towman Feels Targeted by City

A Cape Coral, Fla., resident feels he’s being targeted by the city’s code enforcement department. Brandon Whiteside said he works for a 24-hour towing company and has never had an issue with parking his truck in his driveway overnight until recently. “My vehicle is the tool for my job. It’s like telling me I can’t have my tool belt at home because I only use it only on commercial stuff,” said Whiteside. Whiteside said recently he received a city code compliance flyer telling him he was in violation, which prohibits commercial vehicle parking in a residential area. A city spokesperson said the code has been law for 20 years and can only change through council vote. Whiteside said he’ll push for the vote. Source: fox4now.com.

Tow Policy to Change

Officials in St. Louis, Mo., confirmed they are changing their towing policies after crime victims complained to a local news station. Victims will no longer have to pay towing or storage fees to the city if they get their car from the city tow lot during business hours, within the first 72 hours of police notification that the car was recovered. The time frame excludes Sundays and city holidays. Under the previous city policy, even if your car had been stolen, you would have to pay to get your car out of the city’s tow lot in the event it was recovered by police. The change means a loss in revenue of about $300,000 a year. Source: kmov.com.

N.Y. Blue Light Bill NOT Dead

The Empire State Towing & Recovery Association’s Blue Light Bill came to a sudden halt when state Rep. David Gantt, assembly transportation committee chair, made a motion to hold the bill. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Michael DenDekker, then converted it into a “sponsor’s hold,” which makes it possible to bring the bill up in committee if the legislature returns to Albany later in the year.

Gantt had previously told ESTRA’s lobbyist, Pete O’Connell, that he didn’t see a need for the bill because “motorists move over for yellow lights all the time.” Hold on Blue Light Bill in New York state is not a death sentence according to ESTRA. ESTRA says it will attempt to convince Gantt to change his mind on the bill and urged its members to contact their reps to go on the bill as a cosponsor. Source: estranys.com.

Extreme Heat

Keeps Towmen Busy

Randy Partlow Jr. of ABC Towing in Coachella, Calif., said that the searing heat in the west has increased calls for him and other drivers. “A normal, regular day has 7, 10, to 12 calls,” he said. “Right now, we’re doing 15 to 20, and then some.” He said the summer season is one of the busiest times for towing companies in the California valley, with extreme heat taking an extreme toll on rides; especially on tires and batteries. “Lots of tires and exploding batteries,” Partlow said. The heat, he said, also poses challenges for tow operators, including dehydration. Source: kesq.com.

Ride-Shares Impact Tipsy Tows

With the addition of Uber and Lyft, people have a different way of getting around town during holidays like last month’s Fourth of July celebrations. Russell Patten with Mike’s Wrecker Service in Huntsville, Ala., said they see a decrease in business because of the different ride-sharing services. He said that people are more aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, and they take advantage of ride-sharing. Patten said the company used to offer holiday specials but stopped because people now will leave their car.

Source: waff.com.

Best Drivers Report Released

The 13th annual Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report recently named Kansas City, Kan., as the city with America’s safest drivers. Based on Allstate claims data, the company unveiled the report to encourage safedriving habits according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. IIHS found July and August are the deadliest months on the road, with each averaging 116 deaths a day. The National Safety Council estimates more than 40,000 people died in car crashes in 2016, making it potentially the most dangerous driving year since 2007. This year’s three safest cities— Kansas City, Brownsville, Texas, and Madison, Wis.—retain their places in the top three from last year’s report, with Kansas City jumping ahead of Brownsville. Source: allstate.com.

Correction In a photo on page 26 in the July issue, J.J. Tirinato was mistakenly identified as Michael DeVito.

Burned Towman in Coma Following Collision

Aaron Palacios, a rookie tower with Western Towing in San Diego, Calif., suffered major injuries and burns to 50 percent of his body following a fiery wrong-way crash on Interstate 5 in July. Witnesses said that Palacios managed to get himself out of the wreckage of his tow truck and was seen running to the wrong-way driver’s car to try and help him as flames consumed his Porsche. At press time, Palacios was in a medically induced coma at UCSD Medical Center. “He’s a newer tower … a smart guy, and was very happy-go-lucky from his first interview all the way up to starting that shift,” said Joel Talmadge, Western Towing’s Driver Manager. “He was focused and always wanted to learn more.” Talmadge said Palacios has no burns to his lungs, or internal injuries from the accident according to doctors. “They said it looks good he will survive, but will need lots of time and surgeries,” he said. A GoFundMe account, gofundme.com/aarons-palacios-medical-expenses, was created to help cover the family’s expenses. Sources: AT staff; nbcsandiego.com.

Aaron Palacios, left. Texas towmen are seeking stricter enforcement of the state’s Move Over laws. Foxsanantonio.com image.

Towmen Want More Enforcement

Some towmen in Texas are pushing to strengthen the state’s Move Over law. Geoff Nienstedt of Roadrunner Towing Service said drivers do not obey the law and wants to see tougher penalties for people. A local television station saw up close what tow operators deal with on a daily basis. In a matter of minutes, more than 150 cars zoomed by a tow truck on I-35 without moving over or slowing down. Only two tow trucks and a pickup truck pulling a trailer obeyed the Move Over law. However, when a police squad parked there with its blue and red flashing lights, drivers immediately started pumping the brakes. “That’s one of the reasons … we want to be able to run the blue lights to the rear. It gets people’s attention and it slows them down,” Nienstedt said. Source: foxsanantonio.com.