I have noticed a big change among wrecker drivers operating in the areas around Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. With the hardworking Detectives with the Austin Police Department Wrecker Enforcement Unit, writing wrecker drivers high dollar tickets for their stupidity and collecting fees not allowed.
I expect certain wrecker driver to continue their crusade to steal vehicles from parking lots not in compliance, wrecker drivers arriving at collision scene not wearing the TDLR mandated clothing, and not completely cleaning up the accident scene.
Just this past week, I saw a collision at East Riverside Dr at Tinnin Ford RD where two rotation were called, I parked and watched to see who would arrive, sure enough Rocha's arrived first. The Rocha driver was not even wearing the correct shirt, no was his City of Austin license clipped to his shirt. OF course, I documented the entire event with video. The 2nd truck to arrive was Harpers, that their driver was wearing the TDLR approved short, in addition to displaying both the COA badge and the TDLR badge.
Lots of changes have came to the towing, vehicle storage and booting industries, that TDLR will regulate. There also is an attempt by Joane Messina and Amy Milstead-Ellzey to do away with giving the consumer a copy of the tow truck receipt, I don't see this changing, because the tow truck receipt (governmental record) is a requirement for request the hearing to determine if probable cause existed to have the vehicle towed in the first place. In addition, tow truck drivers have been known to forged someone's name on the authorization line on the tow truck receipt, another reason, the consumer is entitled to both, the tow truck receipt and the vehicle storage facility receipt. TDLR should place an empasis on wrecker driver and vehicle storage facility employees, to complete the paperwork.
I was told during a telephone call, that three wrecker drivers were arrested in the San Antonio area, after an alert patrolman videotaped vehicles being towed away from a closed service station, with none of the required signage posted. After further review, not one of the three who were arrested didn't have a TDLR licenses, nor could they produce any documentation giving them the right remove 34 vehicles from that location.
What this tells me is that local law enforcement agencies are doing something, like arresting wrecker drivers for committing criminal action, such as illegal towing.
Anyway, I have submitted an application for the "public member" opening on the TDRL Texas Towing, Storage and Booting Advisory Board.
Although I no longer work in the towing industry, I have a vast knowledge of experience in these types of trades.
