TowZone

I thought to continue the activity in this forum throughout the winter months that I would add some die-cast topics. How many members are into die-cast and specifically Wreckers/Tow Trucks. Personally I have a few and I will be adding those as well as I take the time to go through the collection. I may even find a few to give away next year. So, join in let me know how addicted you have become or not. Let's have a little fun with being a kid again.

I like it with the side boards on. But, I was sitting here thinking something is still missing then it hit me.

I clearly understand "NO PARKING" that's all that matters and it's there clear as day.

"This just strengthens our case for Fully licenced and certificated Towing companies and properly regulated and certificated Towtrucks in the UK ... " John, I would think this video which has gone viral is a very good catalyst towards moving those requirement along and giving law authorities more power deal with such rouge 3rd world country entities. I would think in the UK any vehicle as such caught once a law is in place would be confiscated and likely crushed. If it doesn't happen so it is likely the number of these incidents will grow rapidly there. Surprised we do not see more of it here, though it may be that we have a high number of Junk Tow Trucks on the market. I saw a junky old Medium Duty size rollback the other day that said $20 Tows on the door. That I understand is what he pays for junk cars, but it baits those looking for a tow in.

You say you want some Fresh Air. I don't know, but that is the first time I have used the HaHa emoticon in this new system.

Now you know how it works, these are mental health counselors that have been trained to counsel those under mental duress. They don't need guns or fancy lights on their vehicles. Most will even use their personal vehicles to go into a hazardous location. Because they have the skills the officer do not have to reduce tensions. Guns and Official Vehicles would make the subject uncomfortable and not achieve the same outcome as requested by those who seek to de-fund the police. Somehow in their minds they actually think the person which is out of control cares of has the capacity to care. Reason went out the down long before the police were called. Now, I want to offer my sympathies to those who have family members in the mental health field that have been trained in a liberal setting and simply want to help others. I honestly believe their intentions while misguided and without full knowledge of the variables which can occur when out in the public setting rather than a controlled environment. In my mind having been on the edge of enough of these situations that $15 to $18/hr these counselors make is not enough for the high risk of injury or death. If anyone thinks they will pay more than say $20/hr your misinformed. Otherwise they would hire more officers and train them. Why does part of me want to see this play out, I do not want to see or hear about the deaths that will without doubt occur. I feel it will be open season and numerous counselors will give there lives before the program comes to an end. Does anyone know what it's like for a medic to go into a active war zone with bullets flying? I can't relate as I've never been in that situation, nor have I really been in place were bullets were being shot closer than a block or two away. The more I think about it the dumber this idea becomes and the more I want to see it implemented. That's Wrong... This Is Wrong! Fund Mental Health Care Professionals in Mental Hospitals, Commit these violent offenders with Mental Issues and watch the problem decrease. Things only started going bad when Judges being influenced by liberals who would be scared or have never been in such situations decided it was inhumane to lock up those with mental health issues. This increased to homeless population. And I am not talking about those who are working to bring themselves back to society as their are 1000's living in their vehicles. These persons go to work nearly every day and while they could undoubtedly benefit from counseling they are not the concern. However, they will without a doubt suffer being the easier target. If the Left really wanted to see change, do you think California would not look as it does? No, this is a campaign talking point to gain votes and it works. Ask your school age children, you'll be amazed at what there being taught. It may even make you angry.

Do you see the link that says choose files. Click on it, find the images in your files, click on them and then open. Once the images show, set you cursor in the topic and click on the image. Then just repeat for every image. Try that now!

@Animosus Now that's what I'm talkin' about. Car-toons, no memes in this topic please...

What ya got... GO...

Driver charged with homicide in accident that killed tow truck driver on I-78 State police filed vehicular homicide charges against a Johnstown man in a crash in July on Interstate 78 that killed a tow-truck operator working on a roadside assistance call. An arrest warrant was issued early this week for Allen E. Putman, 29, the Berks County district attorney’s office announced Friday. He was not in custody as of Friday afternoon. The death of Tyler A. Laudenslager, 29, of Halifax, Dauphin County, helped spark legislation to increase penalties for drivers who do not pull into a different lane at an emergency response area. Charges against Putman include homicide by vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, reckless endangerment, violation of duty of the driver in an emergency response area, following too closely and driving at an unsafe speed. State police at Hamburg previously released this account of the July 21 three-vehicle crash in Bethel Township: A passenger vehicle driven by Putman was traveling west on I-78 when it rear-ended a commercial vehicle, and then veered across the highway and struck Laudenslager as he was standing along the interstate. The vehicle then struck the tow truck before coming to a rest a short distance away. Laudenslager had been actively involved in a roadside assistance call when the crash occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dozens of emergency responders are killed or injured by vehicles every year, with 44 deaths logged nationally in 2019, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. On Oct. 29, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the new law that increases the penalties under the state's Steer Clear law, which require motorists to move over to an adjacent lane at an emergency response area, and if that is not possible, to slow down to a speed of no more than 20 mph less than the posted speed limit. The measure, a rebranding of the 2006 law, was passed by the Legislature in response to an increase in fatal accidents at emergency response scenes. Motorists are fined $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense and $2,000 for the third offense. RESOURCE LINK

Person Taken To Hospital From Scene Of Crash On 101 Freeway In Woodland Hills A person was taken to a hospital Tuesday evening from the scene of a crash on the Ventura (101) Freeway in Woodland Hills. The crash was initially reported at 7:08 p.m. as a collision between a sedan and a tow truck, and two minutes later it was reported that the sedan’s driver was having a heart attack, according to the California Highway Patrol, which could not confirm if the information reported to it was accurate. The Los Angeles Fire Department took one person to a hospital, but no patient information was available, the department’s Margaret Stewart said. RESOURCE LINK

Drunk driver WATCHING MOVIE while DRIVING mows down cop The suspect not only admitted to drinking and watching a movie, but he also said he had the cruise control on an depended too much on the vehicle’s lane assist feature An Iowa police officer was seriously injured on Sunday by a driver who allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol and playing a movie on his dashboard at the time of the crash. Citing police, the Des Moines Register reported that West Des Moines police officer Jon Kaufman was waiting for a tow truck on Interstate Highway 35 around midnight when John Schwartz, 61, crashed into his patrol vehicle. According to an incident report, Schwartz not only admitted to drinking and watching a movie, but he also said he had the cruise control on and depended too much on the vehicle’s lane assist feature. The Register reported that both Kaufman and Schwartz were seriously injured in Sunday’s crash. While KHAK reported that Kaufman was hospitalized in critical condition, police told the Register on Tuesday that his condition has improved. Authorities reportedly obtained a search warrant for Schwartz’s blood and urine samples. Charges are pending based on what the tests show. Schwartz’s current condition has not been disclosed. https://www.crimeonline.com/2020/11/11/drunk-driver-watching-movie-while-driving-mows-down-cop/

While looking back through the archives, I came upon this video. I am posting this in remembrance of Mr. James Williamson, Jr. B/A Products. James is no longer with us, but I just know he is lurking in spirit. The Big Guy would Light Up A Room and this will certainly touch those that were fortunate enough to know him. Many of us will miss him until we meet again on the other side. Without a Baltimore Tow Show this year, nothing seems right amid all the turmoil of 2020. Happy Veterans Day!

Over the years the number of Veterans in the Towing Industry seems to have decreased. However, if you look back in the early days many Wrecker Drivers were Veterans who had returned from service and either started a Auto Repair/Wrecker Business or were Employed. We saluted each and every one of them and you. If your a Military Veteran Shout Out in Reply.. Again, Thank You for your service!

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Rear Engine did not stop, it's fine.. But, not something I would suggest doing as you do not know what is in or under that flood water.

BORDEN COUNTY, Texas — One person died in a crash in Borden County Thursday morning, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. Coletyn R. King, 22, of Hermleigh was killed in the crash, which took place on U.S. Highway 180 just before 4:00 a.m. King’s truck was traveling east when it crossed the center stripe of the highway and hit a tow truck head-on. There was a passenger in King’s truck, who was transported to University Medical Center with non-incapacitating injuries. The driver of the tow truck was taken to Medial Arts Hospital in Lamesa with non-incapacitating injuries. King was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. RESOURCE LINK

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KEY WORD: Charge accordingly of course.. It is not the fault of the tow operator that these manufacturers designs cannot be bypassed for transport. My Wife's vehicle has the electronic brake system. I told her I would not be setting up the automatic feature to set the brakes when the vehicle was in park. My argument is for years we drove vehicles and only set the parking brake if we were on a steep hill as a precaution. These vehicles do not need to engage the brakes every-time they are parked and therefore should incur additional charges. Boogles how many tow companies do not add these appropriate labor costs. What boggles my mind even more are how many charge the same for a rollback as they would a wheel lift without dollies. Yet charge more for the dollies on the rollback. Still scratching my head on that one and it's been explained to me numerous ways.

The owner found his missing vehicle near Everett Mall and confronted the man in the front seat EVERETT — A tow truck driver found his missing vehicle outside a thrift store on Everett Mall Way and confronted the man sitting behind the wheel. Once he was close enough, the suspected thief swung a knife near the owner’s throat. It missed but “was within inches of cutting him,” according to documents filed in Snohomish County Superior Court. The 27-year-old Everett man has been arrested for investigation of first-degree assault and possession of a stolen vehicle. He’s been in trouble before while driving a vehicle that was not his. The tow truck driver approached his missing vehicle around 3 p.m. Wednesday. It’s not clear how long the truck was missing. When the suspect swung the knife, the owner punched him in self defense, according to court papers. The Everett man ran, an Everett police officer wrote. Soon after, an officer with a police dog found the man hiding inside a dumpster across the street. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail. About two years ago, the suspect was arrested for attempting to elude police, court records show. In January 2019, officers were on the lookout for an older F-150 pickup truck with the words “Layin pipe” spray painted near the driver’s side door handle. It reportedly had been used in two armed robberies the day before. That afternoon, a Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy noticed a truck that looked similar and followed it. The driver turned off the truck lights and started to speed away. The deputy turned on his siren and emergency lights, but the driver would not stop. A chase ensued from south Everett onto northbound I-5 and into north Everett. Eventually the deputy used a law enforcement driving technique known as a PIT maneuver — bumping the truck to make it spin out and stop. The chase lasted about 4 miles, with speeds reaching 97 mph, according to a police report. The suspect reportedly began to struggle as deputies arrested him, trying to kick his feet and roll around on the ground as they attempted to place him in handcuffs. Later, he talked with a deputy and said he borrowed the truck from a friend for the day. The deputy said he had been looking for the man. “Looking for me, or looking for the truck?” he responded. When the deputy asked why he would be looking for the truck, the suspect said his friend “was crazy and probably did some bad stuff with it,” the deputy wrote. He didn’t know anything else, he told the deputy. He reportedly said he tried to get away because he was scared and didn’t want to go to jail. He had multiple warrants for his arrest. The deputy wondered why he continued to try to get away on I-5. “I figured I already ran, I might as well keep going,” the man said. He was arrested for eluding an officer. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 days in jail. RESOURCE LINK

These tragic incidents hit close to home with tow truck operators: ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. — A Virginia State Police trooper is in serious condition after she was struck while inside her patrol car Friday night while in a highway work zone on I-66 East in Arlington County. The crash occurred around 11:30 p.m. just prior to Exit 69. Trooper M. Hart was transported to Fairfax Inova Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries, according to Virginia State Police. Both the female driver and the male passenger fled the scene on foot from the 2014 Volkswagen that struck Hart's patrol car, added VSP. Virginia State Police arrested the alleged passenger, 37-year-old Christopher G. Rush of Woodbridge, Va. Rush reportedly refused to assist state police with identifying the driver. Rush was arrested for being drunk in public and obstruction of justice. He was transported to Arlington County Detention Center, said VSP. RESOURCE LINK

VIDEO LINK PENDING: COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) - Two men are expected to face felony charges after leading police on a multi-county chase, across state lines in a stolen tow truck. The pursuit ended when the suspects crashed the tow truck on 5th Street in Covington around 4:30 a.m. Saturday after exiting 71/75 SB. Covington Police say the tow truck was stolen in Cincinnati. The driver was able to use the GPS system inside the truck to track it to Sharonville. Sharonville Police spotted the truck and that’s when the pursuit began. Ohio State Highway Patrol got involved around High Street and Erie Boulevard in Hamilton. OSHP dispatchers say the suspects led troopers around Butler County before getting on 75 SB. An Ohio agency used stop sticks. At some point during the pursuit, police say the suspects rammed into an OSHP cruiser. No troopers were injured and the cruiser received minor damage, according to dispatchers. Covington Police say the two men have multiple warrants. They are expected to also face charges from Sharonville Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol and from Covington Police. There’s no word on possible charges in Cincinnati. RESOURCE LINK with video

Many officers I know would like more now than even to go after a violator. However, often it is just the two of use and that would mean leaving the tow truck operator exposed to another violator. At times there are two and there marked units on scene and if one cares he or she will break away and go after a blatant offender. Nearly half of those result in an arrest for a contributing factor such as DUI/OWI. Some have warrants or other legal issues, this is the reason officers so often these days ask someone if they have a warrant. Seriously a high number do have legal issues.