"There always will be another vehicle."

That has always been the position I have taken when I was conducting PPI's Legally. There's always another Illegally Parked Vehicle, this one is not worth the hassle. Luckily all the vehicle had to be is hooked properly to the tow truck to request a drop fee. The drop fee was either minimal or half to regular tow charge. If the person needed to go to an ATM then there was a waiting period and we did not charge additional. However, if they did not return in during that wait time then we would leave with the vehicle. If they chose to call the police it was either stay another just to inconvenience them further or release the vehicle and move on. If the police showed up, it would become a civil matter. They would provide the vehicle owners information and you would be told to release the vehicle. Best bet was to get that vehicle off the property as soon as possible, even if they show up at that point then either they pay you the drop fee or you take it to the lot. Problem is most drivers do not know the legal aspects to PPI towing in their area or simply do not care. Yes, I have seen tow truck drivers go to jail during a PPI or for that matter even a REPO for various reasons. You ask what. OK, this was the most common back in the day "A Warrant" generally it was for "Child Support". Really and they the tow truck driver was fine with involving the police. Geesh, it's like this guy that has enough legal problems that he is still out forcibly taking vehicles. Go Figure!

Here's an Uber Driver that Raps. Hey, don't laugh listen to what the lady says he should do with his rap.

2006 Tow411 - 2018 TowForce Topic Revisited

There is a marked police vehicle blocking a lane of traffic so that you can hook up a vehicle. Vehicles have one lane to pass, they are not slowing down. Then one of them comes over into the lane you're working as soon as they pass that marked unit and there they are. At this point they are attempting to get back into the lane of traffic. I find that this is happening more and more. The drivers of those vehicles have even attempted to pass the marked unit on the opposite side.

They simply have no regard or respect for flashing lights regardless of color or penalty.

Could it be a Bull In A China Shop Mentality? Oh look there a Squirrel...

Richard, do you feel the PPI is worth a such confrontation. In this incident which does not involve the other person having a weapon I fail to rationalize the justification. The vehicle was not hooked and the tow operator did not have the authority to cite the vehicle for fire lane violation. Best the tow operator could have done is advise the person to move the vehicle. Personally if they ended up not having the means to do this I would likely continue to hook up. But, I am not going to mace or pepper spray that person without just cause. That being actual fear of harm and even then I have an exit as I do not believe this would hold up as a stand your ground.

Stand Your Ground in regards to a Private Property Impound. That would be an interesting subject to dive into. Possibly we can get Micheal Mcgovern into this topic as I am sure he has likely written something about this over the many years.

@Michael McGovern

Hoping those fighting the fires get them under control soon.

I have no understand of the terrain in these regions, but I still cannot help to think that bringing back Clear Cutting would reduce the number of acres being burned and make it easier to contain these wild fires.

So sorry to hear of the loss of a vacation home. Hope it wasn't burned to cover up a crime. Some bad hombres south of the border. In fact their everywhere. But this stuff of arsonists intentional causing these wildfires is insane. When caught they should be dropped off in the middle of the fire. Let the flames they cause have them.

In most states companies conducting private property impounds cannot simply block a vehicle in and demand payment. the vehicle has to be properly hooked to the tow truck. The wording of proper meaning it must be strapped was added when some ppi tow companies were found to be putting a chain from the tow vehicle to the vehicle being impounded. In some cases the tow vehicle was a pickup truck inapplicable of properly towing the vehicle being impounded. These types of shady business practices have nearly ruined a legitimate service provided to commercial properties.

Patrol Towing is among the worst offenders in the private property segment of the towing industry. Many Legitimate do not even want to conduct Private Property Impounds anymore. Myself, I still see it as and added source of revenue for a professionally run towing operation. It is also another piece of what many companies were built on. Most tow operations have never fully understood what they gave up when they let the Unlocks, Repos and PPI's go to companies which specifically conducted these types of services. Now there are even more less than reputable and sometimes unprofessional companies involved in an industry they want nothing other to do with.

Now, if you're one of the companies specializing in any of these areas and you're reading this. I can only assume you have a more professional approach to this business.

This is the right place, let's see if we can get @Brian Bell or @Detroit Wrecker in here. I know for sure the two of them have worked with these before. There are other as well and I will tag them when I recall who they are...

Atlantic Emergency Towing and Recovery posted

Today was about our fallen brothers. Unfortunately, the wall in Chattanooga continues to grow. One Towing & Recovery Professional every six days.

We particulate in these events because we support our local towing and recovery operators and associations. We have over 75 years of combined industry experience in our Towing Sales Division alone. We care about you and your safety because we’ve shared the side of the road with you. We understand the dangers. Stay safe. Let’s get the word out and inspire the public to change & keep you safe.

Atlantic Emergency Towing and Recovery says Slow Down & Move Over

Virginia Tow Operators Showing Respect to a couple of Fallen Tow Operators. video courtesy of Dallas Horton.

Danny Horton posted:

What an honor to be able to participate in a Slow Down Move Over Tribute to two of our local fallen brothers. Also to raise awareness to the general public with a show of nearly 50 trucks on the Interstate.

Additionally getting to see so many of you again. Please stay safe and always alert. Thank you to Fairfax County PD and VSP for their assistance. Thanks to CBS channel 9 WUSA for their coverage.

ChipZ You name will go back into the drawing with an additional entry for your reply within this topic. I got a mega-mini vacation a few weeks ago, it was good to get away. Hope yours was just as good if not better. It is quite possible your screen name will be drawn within a few weeks. Check back on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for a new drawing. May the TowForce be with you.

Everyone that did not respond within the 48 hours extended to 72 hours has been added back into the drawing.

As a Thank you for responding to this topic, an additional listing will be added for those who were unable to claim their prize before time ran out. Our goal is to get this back on a regular schedule, so check in each Tuesday or Wednesday for a the drw=awing notification. Again, Thanks for your participation TowForce is on track to once again be a Force in the Industry. Everything Towing sourced in one place with links to various other industry sources.

QueenswayTire

fenderbender6

ChipZ

This drawing ends at 7:39 am and the remaining names will go back into the pot for the next drawing. Check back next Tuesday as we work to get these back on a regular schedule.

And for you lurkers and guests, you can still register as a member and add a reply to this topic within the next 36 hours for an entry in the drawings which will be held thru November 2020.

REGISTER AS A MEMBER ABOVE NOW! Help us reach our goal of 6000 members by March 1, 2021

Keep the winch line connected on and off or this can happen to you too. Tell Me I Am Wrong!

If your name appears in the list above there is just a little more than 12 hours remaining to claim your prize. Otherwise your name will be returned to the drawing.

Lurkers can register as a member and add a reply to this topic within the next 48 hours for an entry in the drawings which will be held thru November 2020.

REGISTER ABOVE NOW! Help us reach our goal of 6000 members by March 1, 2021

EDITED: I just realized I extended this weeks drawing for 24 hours. Where are the days going?

HALIFAX, Pa. (WHTM) — A Halifax firefighter was laid to rest Thursday afternoon.

Last Tuesday, 29-year-old Tyler Laudenslager was killed while he was working as a tow truck driver.

Laudenslager is being remembered for his love and devotion to his family and his multiple jobs helping others.

“Tyler just had an infectious laugh, infectious smile. Everybody gravitated toward him,” said Halifax Fire Chief Tim Neiter. “He was just one of those guys, even if it was a bad day and bad things were happening, he’d find the good in it.”

He was firefighter in Halifax, but died while operating a tow truck for H&S Towing.

“Anything you needed Tyler to do he dug into. You didn’t have to ask him because he was already doing it,” said Robert Hummelbaugh, owner of H&S Towing.

Hummelbaugh said towing may be a competitive industry, “Yet we have each other’s back and you can see that right here. These people are here for support because we lost one of ours.”

It’s another big reminder to slow down and move over when you see emergency vehicles.

“That’s our office there alongside the highways,” said Jackie Weyandt, HR manager for H&S Towing. “We go out there to help the public every day and we have families that are waiting for us as well, so we would like to go home to them.”

A fleet of tow trucks surrounded the service including the rig Laudenslager drove that night and his own pickup truck on top.

“We’ve got people that came from the Philadelphia area and people that didn’t even know him but knew of him,” Neiter said.

He enjoyed trains, camping, taking cruises and spending time with his wife Holly and 10-month-old daughter Riley.

He was even working on restoring a fire truck for his daughter, which carried his casket on his last ride to the cemetery.

“Whether it was being a tow operator, whether it was being a fireman, whether it was being a family member, whether it was being a friend, he always went above and beyond and he will be sorely missed,” Neiter said.

RESOURCE LINK with video

Does anyone here have any information on this gathering of tow trucks this Saturday in Virginia?

Saturday morning 08.01.20 - 10 AM AT NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN ANNANDALE VA

This is one I ran across today and do not have enough information to forward on as a news story. It involves a Tow Truck and a AAA Members death from a gun shot. It is unclear if the tow truck driver was on the scene at the time of the shooting. Since this was likely a regional story perhaps a member has more info.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/mattapan-mother-mourns-daughter-slain-trying-to-buy-used-bmw-in-lowell-murder-suspect-arraigned-in-court/ar-BB17kQ2A

This is why Old School Professionals Do Not Drive Vehicles onto the roll back, carrier, flat-bed tow truck.

I was taught this decades ago. How many of you were taught this is wrong?

Classic car catches fire in Canton, Ohio

Damage to the 1947 model was minimal, fire inspector says.

CANTON City firefighters were called at 6:44 a.m. Tuesday to 19th Street NW where a classic car had caught fire.

Canton Fire Prevention Inspector Joseph Carafelli said the 1947 Mercury Deluxe Convertible was being driven onto flat-bed tow truck in the 1100 block of 19th Street NE. It was being taken to a shop for brake repairs when a leaking fuel line ignited the engine.

The towing driver immediately put out the fire to the car, which has only 73,000 original miles.

Carafelli said the vehicle is salvageable, although no monetary amount was placed on the estimated damage.

The fire was accidental, he said.

https://www.cantonrep.com/news/20200728/classic-car-catches-fire-in-canton

IT's way past time we get back to the weekly T-shirt drawings. I have had a difficult time getting Savannah and myself in at the same time. I got in early this morning before she left for school. That's right she's back in school as of last week. The kids need to be in school, most can adapt to what is required. While is her school there is a choice as to attending school in person or e-learning. OK, enough of that and we hope many of you are getting back to some sort of normal. I know their trying to shut us down again. All the while there is more testing which raises the number of infected persons who may or may not be showing any signs. Many will never show signs yet be a carrier, so keep those with compromised immune systems safe. A vaccine is around the corner. What you heard there is a chip in the vaccine! Listen if the government wanted to implant a chip, they would have done it in the Flu Vaccine nearly half the population takes every year. I'm taking the Covid Vaccine after the initial round of shots.

Now, enough of that here's the List of 10 plus 1 for a bonus prize to be anounced soon.

Bill Kalenda - ChipZ - fenderbendr6 - FTI Groups - Jeff Myers -

mdjohnson - njss - Riggio Towing - tmehi - Queensway Tire

Mystery Prize - Bob Claessens

Remember you must respond with 48 hours of this post or your name goes back into the drawing.

Unless it is a really small company with 3 or less drivers. Then I have stated numerous times I seriously dislike slip seating drivers. I have found that it is not productive, tow operators should be the best at what they do with each type of equipment. Yes, I have experienced heavy drivers who were capable of picking up a service truck (pickup style) with their heavy which was in the area they were in 100 miles from base and would not do it. That's Wrong!

But, Leave Heavy Drivers in Heavy Equipment. Leave Carrier/Rollbacks drivers in that equipment and so on. Now there are medium duty drivers that aspire to be heavy drivers and are willing to go up  or down. But, forcing a driver into a piece of equipment they are not comfortable operating. Is Wrong!

Special procession held to honor tow truck driver killed while helping motorist on turnpike

RESOURCE LINK

Sadly this is not a united industry, you couldn't even get near 100% of the industry to shut down for an hour across the nation. Pull to the side and turn their lights on, get National News. Show up in front of the Court Houses, Mayors and Governors Offices. Yeah, even pushing other protestors out of the way for an hour. It could happen but it won't and another Tower Down message will go out before the month is out.

Now I know many of you are shaking your heads. Now think about all the tow operators who are not just sick and tire of seeing these tower down messages. Our Brothers are being Murdered by distracted drivers and the numbers are not declining. Slow Down Move Over Laws are No Better than Seat Belt Laws. Kinda like the Mayor of Chicago who says if the President wants to help in Chicago, don't send in forces. Implement Stronger Gun Regulation. WOW, think about it.