rreschran

Update: Colorado's parole review board has voted to keep Detra Ferries in prison and not release her to a half-way house. An earlier decision to release her from only serving 7-years of a 20-year sentence was re-voted and overturned after being convicted of the 2011 dragging death Colorado tow operator Allen Rose. During the process of early review, it was determined that the parole board failed to notify Rose's widow of the intent to release early. Farries will remain in prison and continue her incarceration until the next parole hearing is held. https://www.krdo.com/news/top-stories/detra-farries-convicted-in-the-dragging-death-of-a-tow-truck-driver-will-remain-in-prison/1133191203

The video clearly shows the Tacoma run the red light and you can hear the carrier operator "lock it up" at the moment the tow driver saw the truck coming through the intersection about 7-seconds in. The irony in the photo shows that the carrier was transporting a car used in a, "destruction derby". I'm glad the tower and the trooper survived the crash. R.

Thanks Brian for sharing the sad news of Byron's passing. Christine and I send our prayers to Shane's and his family as well.

Thanks Garry for sharing EH's grave site for those who haven't been. Garry gives you a close-up look in a really somber environment. Good to see you Garry. Best Regards. R

Brian ... send them on of your well-written letters expressing your dislike ... it's good therapy and doesn't cost you a thing. R.

There's an article floating around the internet by a writer named Kirsty Law and on the website Thethings.com. The article can be seen on the link https://www.thethings.com/20-things-tow-truck-drivers-do-that-annoy-everyone/ After reading her narrative, I got my panties in a twist and I fired off one of my letters yesterday to rebut what she had to say. In part I wrote, "I write to share my total disdain with your, October 14, 2019, article, “20-Things Tow Truck Drivers Do That Annoy Everyone.” I believe your narrative may have been perpetuated by you, or someone you know, having an undesirable experience of having a vehicle towed or impounded? Your adverse narrative makes me believe that you, or someone you know, may have been towed because of being parked where one shouldn’t have parked, they were towed by the police, they were arrested for driving while intoxicated, or, were involved in an unfortunate traffic accident … all by the way, at no fault of our tow operators. "I believe that you, and, Thethings.com, owe the towing and recovery industry a huge apology. Please note, I have since forwarded this letter to the towing and recovery industry while providing them the link to your article and your editor. Furthermore, I’ve invited all towers to message back to your publication with hopes this letter is returned to you. Your narrative is unacceptable, demeaning and undeserved. While I’ll say that we’re not an industry that’s over-sensitive and certainly not one easily offended, your words shed malice in a negative light, that, without tow operators serving the motoring public, the world’s highway, bi-ways and city streets would be nothing more than orchestrated chaos. These brave men and women give their lives to serve their communities in-which they live. So, the next time you experience a flat-tire or vehicle break-down on the shoulder of a dark, rainy highway, I pray for your survival when no tower comes to your aid having read your slanderous and ignorant comments that berates our brotherhood of brave tow men and tow women." I invite you to read the narrative as see that the industry has been dogged for whatever motivation she has. I further invite you to write the parenting site https://www.valnetinc.com/ a nasty-gram if only to tell Ms. Law just how out of touch with reality she really is. I know that my words might fall on Ms. Law's deaf ears, but it does me well to let her and those other ignorant journalists know that they have their heads in their proverbial asses. R.

Congratulations Belinda for your Dave Jones' Award and thank you for your contributions to the industry. I was proud to be awarded the Dave Jones' Award last year. It was great to see you in Chattanooga. R.

OK ... so let's question this as if that Cadillac rolled through and intersection and ran over four-persons waiting for a city bus. How far will a #4,000-pound, drive-less, stop-less vehicle roll when it detaches at 40-miles per hour and what is the potential for great bodily injury or death? One strap and no safety chains is capable of ending someones life at the blink of an eye. So, isn't that why towers are trained to comply? And, intentionally failing to use appropriate safety gear; wouldn't that teeter on criminal negligence? Is it worth the risk? R.

As you know, I follow tow related news and cases important to the towing and recovery industry. I recently read the results of a Louisiana Worker's Compensation case where, on May 10, 2015, tow operator Steven Ricketson was struck and killed by a train in Louisiana. His widow filed a Worker's Comp claim on behalf of Steven's biological child seeking compensation and support. In September 2018, the case was adjudicated where no compensation was paid to Steven's child. Adding insult to injury, all fees of the case were assessed against Steven's wife. I bring this case to the forefront as a reminder that, whatever your situation is regarding your personal matters of marriage, child support, divorce, assets, property, a Last Will, or living trust, etc. ... take necessary time to be sure that your personal family matters are well handled. Because this industry never guarantees anyone's longevity, there's a certain responsibility that we each bear that our family matters are covered. I personally know several towers who lost their lives in the line-of-duty and were not insured nor did they have their affairs in order. This is a topic that no-one wants to approach, but it's vitally important to do so. I provide a link to the travesty placed on Steve Ricketson's family. RIP Steve. R. Link: https://law.justia.com/cases/louisiana/first-circuit-court-of-appeal/2019/2019ca0039.html

Please don't ask ... I won't respond. R.

This is one of those scenarios where the tower most likely will be blamed for the customer's death ... beyond that of the hit and run driver when arrested. At what point are tow operators in-charge of a customer's movements when a vehicle is either being picked up or dropped off? This unfortunate fatality may end up as a lawsuit against the tow operator and his company for not keeping control of the customer's movements. I'm including a link of a HUGE California lawsuit regarding Ruben Monarrez versus Automobile Club of Southern California where controlling the roadside customer was one of the major issues in the lawsuit. Link: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1616140.html While I believe that every competent thinking adult should know better than to stand in the street, the average Joe doesn't have the safety mindset we towers are expected to have. Accordingly, I won't judge this tower's actions, but I know that if sued, the Plaintiff will attack the tower's training. I really feel bad for the tower as he was simply doing his job. As in the Monarrez case, I was the subject matter witness for the tow operator and the Auto Club, yet the overall sentiment in the Monarrez case settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. That simply means ... someone paid big bucks. It's called, "Baby Sitting 101", and something we're tasked to do ... not that we already have enough responsibility to include our own personal safety during load and off-load considerations. So, I'll ask, "What steps do you/should you take to control your customer when loading or unloading based on your training and on-scene safety? Read the Monarrez case and think of what you would have done to protect the customer's safety. Monarrez was struck on the highway while venturing into highway traffic lanes. Is the danger any less on city streets, and, do we (as towers) have a responsibility for a customers safety, or are they simply on their own?Note: This was a California case where protocol is not/may not be consistent with other states, clubs, or company policies and procedure. Please evaluate this case as it regards your state of operations. R.

Hi Joe ... the California Highway Patrol is in the dark with certain types of towing and recovery equipment. For example, the CHP's Tow Service Agreement (TSA) states that a flatbed carrier is not a recovery truck and shall not be used for recovery. While I believe this is an administrative statement, CHP officers at scene allow towers to conduct rollovers all the time, even if the casualty is on its roof. As in the many past years, California's tow association has done nothing to educate the highway patrol as to what can and can be done with a flatbed carrier as well as a semi-mounted knuckle-boom crane working with a Landoll type trailer. Before you spend big dollars on a heavy flatbed transporter, you'd be a wise man to see if your knuckle-boom is allowed by your state's highway patrol. And, if they don't know what it's capable of, invite them to a recovery presentation to show them what it can do. I personally like the combination. Best regards. R.

One of our very talented heavy operators (serving the highway patrol) was told he could not use a knuckle-boom for recoveries. His unit was mounted to a tractor and Landoll where he recovered many pickups pulling trailers in the southern California desert regions. He got rid of the unit and currently uses a 3 axle heavy with a carrier to work the same type of recovery. I personally like their versatility in most situation. R.

I'm happy to hear that you aren't a complete science experiment and all parts remain the same. Chrustine and I had a great time and we met our goals in seeing our long distance friends. We're at the airport now awaiting our flight to Dallas and on to the wildfires near our home (again). Nothing teally different to report from the tow show, but the WOF and HOF events raised around 175-thousand dollars for the fund and 27-names added to the Wall. We'll see you in Atlantic City. Best regards. R.

Hey Brian ... we missed you last night. Looking for an update ... how are you doing?