Towing corruption investigation expands

Image via WikipediaCity suspends tow operator

February 26, 2011 

By Peter Hermann and Julie Scharper

The Baltimore Sun

 

A federal corruption probe that has already led to more than 30 Baltimore police officers suspended or charged with receiving kickbacks in an alleged towing scheme has expanded to include at least one former officer from a state law enforcement agency.

Meanwhile, the criminal investigation is prompting renewed scrutiny of the city's lucrative towing industry, which led to quick action Friday when police suspended the license of one of the 10 companies with exclusive rights to the $4 million-a-year business.

Tire Skates

That move came after a Baltimore Sun reporter told officials that Aaron's Towing on Kirk Avenue had been barred by the state from doing business for the past two years, which had gone unnoticed by city officials.

To read the full article click HERE

Tow Shop Tirade..

From wzzm13.comBIG RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM) --
Feb 22, 2011

A Grand Rapids woman will appear in Mecosta County District Court Wednesday on charges she caused heavy damage to an auto shop office because she was upset over the towing charge for her car.

Grand Rapids Police arrested Tiffany Nealous, 34, on Tuesday.  She was released into the custody of the Mecosta County Sheriff's Department late Tuesday.

Winch Cable for towing 1/2 x 150'  $154.06

 
Deputies say Nealous was involved in the 60-vehicle pile-up on U.S. 131 between Morley and Big Rapids on Sunday.  Nealous' red Pontiac Grand Am was damaged in the accident, and towed to Weeks Auto Repair in Aetna Township.

To read the full story click HERE

Related articles

• Tiffany Nealous Freaks Out and Destroys Auto Shop (VIDEO) (blippitt.com)
• Upper Midwest faces dismal commute with storm - The Associated Press (news.google.com)
• Midwest faces dismal commute with storm (msnbc.msn.com)
• Upper Midwest faces dismal commute with storm (dailycaller.com)
• Anti-war activists Ahlam Mohsen and Max Kantar charged with felonies (redantliberationarmy.wordpress.com)

House Reintroduces Safe & Efficient Transportation Act

From TruckingInfo.com
2/21/11Image via Wikipedia

At the urging of The Coalition for Transportation Productivity, the Safe & Efficient Transportation Act has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio)as H.R. 763.

SETA would, if passed, increase the federal weight limits on Interstate Highways. The bill's reintroduction comes as Congress considers the first Highway Reauthorization package in more than six years.

Condor Cycle Loader: for Rollbacks & Towers

The U.S. federal weight limit has been set at 80,000 pounds since 1982 - forcing shippers that meet this limit with space left in their trailers to use more trucks and fuel than necessary. The goal of SETA is to make truck transportation safer and more sustainable by giving states the ability to adjust federal weight limits on interstates within their borders.

Under SETA, each state would have the option to set interstate weight limits of up to 97,000 pounds -- giving shippers the ability to utilize more truck space. The higher weight limit would only apply to trucks equipped with six axles instead of the typical five. Without making the truck any larger, the additional axle maintains safety specifications, including stopping capability and current weight per tire.

Limelight Wireless Tow Light $195

"SETA provides a critical opportunity for Congress to enact a Highway Reauthorization proposal that modernizes American truck shipping standards in order to protect motorists and the environment, and give U.S. manufacturers and producers a competitive edge," said CTP Executive Director John Runyan. "Many shippers hit the 30-year-old federal weight limit with significant space left in their rigs and must use more truckloads, fuel and vehicle miles than necessary to get products to market. … Six-axle trucks can safely handle more weight, so American companies can utilize more rig space, minimize the trucks they need to meet demand and reduce their dependency on foreign oil."

Motorcycle Sling Straps $21.33

According to CTP, the current 80,000-lb weight limit places U.S. industry at a competitive disadvantage when compared to producers in Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

to read the full article click HERE

Tow truck drivers fight against proposed new rules - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-

From WBTV.com

Image via WikipediaPosted February 15, 2011

By Tom Roussey -


CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Monday night a number of Charlotte tow truck drivers told the city council its plans to fight so-called "predatory towing" are a bad idea -- and would actually be dangerous.

Tow truck drivers say the two parts of the proposed new rules that are dangerous are a requirement for them to be available to give cars back 24 hours a day, plus a requirement they wait and check with police to see if a car's stolen before towing it.

Limelight towmate wireless tow bar $195

The drivers say right now they shut down overnight, and they don't want to deal with folks who may come in in the wee hours of the morning.

"We have people that come to the lot very irate," said a woman with one towing company. "They're cussing, they're screaming, and it's a dangerous situation for not only the consumer, but the drivers as well."

Drivers are also upset about a part of the proposed rules that would force them to wait and check with police to make sure a car is not stolen before towing it. They say irate drivers may also threaten them while they're waiting.

Motorcyle Tow Dolley $256.25

To read the full story click HERE

Related articles

• City Council may tow away public frustrations (charlotte.news14.com)
• When's a driver on the hook for tow fees? (timesunion.com)
• When's a driver on the hook for tow fees? (timesunion.com)
• Wilson towing company draws complaints over aggressive tactics - Source: (curmilus.wordpress.com)

Corpus Christi raises fees tow trucks can charge

* By Rick Spruill
* Corpus Christi Caller Times
* Posted February 10, 2011 at 4:13 p.m., updated February 10, 2011

CORPUS CHRISTI — The city is raising the fees auto wreckers can charge while lowering the amount of time they are given to respond to calls from police officers.

The City Council approved a new ordinance Tuesday governing non-consent towing, including autos in accidents or those being impounded.

City police officers rotate through a list of about 16 wrecking companies for all non-consent towing services.

Image by retiredtowman via Flickr

The ordinance, a cooperative effort of the Corpus Christi Police Department and several local towing companies, would allow wreckers to begin charging $110 for hauling off cars and small trucks, a $20 increase.

In exchange, city-approved wreckers would be required to show up within 30 minutes of being contacted by an officer, regardless of conditions, and employees would be subject to tighter drug and background checks.

The 30-minute window could to be tough to meet, said Joe Dees, owner of Statewide Wrecker Service.

To read the full article click HERE

----------------------------------------------------

Limelight Wireless Tow light $195

For more information about the towlight special click HERE

Under Reach Binder $56.56

For more information about the under reach binder click HERE

Small Businesses’ Confidence Hits Three-Year High | Transport Topics Online | Trucking, Freight Transportation and Logistics News

From Transport Topics
February 8, 2011

A survey released Tuesday showed that confidence among small businesses hit a three-year high, Bloomberg reported.

Towmate Limelight

The National Federation of Independent Business optimism index rose to 94.1 in January, the highest since the recession began in December 2007 as the outlook for sales and profits improved, the group said Tuesday.

The reading was lower than the average 100.7 during the last expansion that started in November 2001, Bloomberg reported.

Small businesses are defined as independent enterprises that employ up to 500 people.
-----------------------------------

Nearly 1 Year Later, Pittsburgh Still 'Wild West' For Towing Pirates - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

From WTAE.com
February 2,2011

Image via WikipediaTeam 4's Jim Parsons reported on Wednesday that nothing has happened nine months after Pittsburgh city council approved a new law to crack down on rogue towing companies.The most important feature of the new ordinance that got final approval in April requires tow truck companies to get a license from the city.Parsons asked Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration how many licenses it has given out so far. The answer? None.Last week in Oakland, Parsons spotted a man on a cell phone who is a lookout for a towing company. The man was watching a parking lot, waiting to see if any of the car owners who parked there went anywhere other than the store that owns the lot.Men like him were supposed to have a special license by now, but a Team 4 investigation finds the new law regulating towers still isn't being enforced.

Pittsburgh resident Dale Labby wishes it was after his experience with a different towing company."They charged me $550," said Labby, who was on Brookline Boulevard last month, waiting to make a turn, when his car got rear-ended by another vehicle. Suddenly, he said, tow trucks were on the scene."They showed up fast, real fast, before the city police and before the fire trucks and everything," Labby said.Somebody -- he doesn't know who -- asked for his car keys as paramedics loaded him into an ambulance, Labby said. A day later, when he was released from the hospital, he found out the bill for his tow was $550."That's outrageous. I don't want to see nobody else get ripped off," Labby said.

To read the full article click here
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Imported Snatch Block

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related articles

• Turnpike pays tow-truck operators just to be available (dispatch.com)
• Pa. county changes name for Super Bowl (upi.com)
• Tom Bradley: Will He Be New Pittsburgh Coach Or Not? (bleacherreport.com)
• Wheels: How to Avoid Tow Truck Scams (wheels.blogs.nytimes.com)
• How to Avoid Tow Truck Scams (bucks.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Towing companies doing "OK" (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Why You Don't Tow A Sailboat With Your Mustang [LOLCars] (jalopnik.com)
• Philadelphia Parking Authority eyed to deal with tow-truck drivers (philly.com)
• New towing rules favor Wilson residents (charlotte.news14.com)