Happy 5th Birthday, TowBlog!

Doubly Dangerous Duty In WI

Be sure to click the link and view the video news story of these two wrecker drivers during one dangerous weekend. The shots of the flattened flatbed are unbelievable... The first wrecker driver threw himself out of the truck just seconds before it was crushed by a jackknifed semi! Here's the story from NBC15.com:

Dangerous roads and questionable driving cause two crashes that come mere inches from killing tow truck drivers.
Tonight they say if other drivers don't learn their lesson, someone is going to die.
The pictures make it tough to believe anyone could walk away alive.
A flat bed tow truck, crushed like an aluminum can.
Bossert Auto Body owner Ed Bossert says, "My wrecker driver looked out of the window just in time to jump."
Friday afternoon on Highway 151, just outside of Mineral Point, a semi driver loses control, jackknifes and goes sliding straight for a wrecker parked on the side of the road.
The tow truck driver, in the cab at the time, sees the semi coming and dives out of the truck into the ditch a second before impact. The semi slides up the wrecker's ramp, shears off the top of the cab and pushes the wrecker 300 feet down the road.
Bossert says, "You know, I can replace the wrecker. I couldn't have replaced the guy. I don't know what I would have told his wife or the family. It's one of those things. People have to slow down."
In 30 years Bossert has never seen anything like it, and the dangerous weekend was just beginning.
On highway 151 alone there were two close calls and with fractions of a second difference, they could have been far worse.
A tow driver working for Greenwood Auto in Dodgeville says he thought he was dead.
Around 2 o'clock this morning he was pulling a car out of the ditch on 151, just 7 miles down the road from Friday's crash. He says a semi slid into his wrecker, throwing him 10 feet into the ditch.
In both crashes everyone escaped serious injury.
Bossert says, "It's just totally unbelievable that no one was killed."
Tonight both incidents prompt the same message.
Bossert says, "People have to learn to slow down."
Employees at both of these towing companies say they've seen their share of close calls over the years and many of them have been too close for comfort.
But they say these crashes are about as scary as it gets.

Dangerous Duty In NC

We are keeping 47-year-old Eduardo Roque, an auto repair and towing business owner in Raleigh, NC, in our thoughts. Roque was struck on the side of the interstate on Jan. 9,  hospitalized in critical condition and one of his leg had to be amputated. Here's the story from WTVD-TV:

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The family of an injured tow truck driver said Monday it wants to know why Raleigh police have not charged the driver who hit him.
Eduardo Roque, 47, has had his leg amputated and was to face more surgery Tuesday.
"It's been hard, especially for me and my brothers," said Eduardo's daughter, Brenda Roque.
Eduardo was left in critical condition following an accident last Monday. That's when, according to police, Eduardo, who is an auto repair and towing shop owner, responded to a broken down car on the eastbound shoulder of Interstate 540.
Even though the tow truck's caution lights were flashing, and Eduardo was wearing a reflective safety vest, police say another driver hit him going about 60 miles per hour.
"He was still conscious when I saw him," said Brenda. "He was telling me that he felt like his leg was dying -- that he couldn't handle the pain no more."
Brenda said doctors amputated her dad's leg Saturday and were to perform pelvic surgery Tuesday.
As hospital bills continue to mount, and the family business barely gets by, Eduardo's family said he is heavily sedated, and doesn't fully understand yet what he or the family is going through.
"We are really scared how he's going to take it," said Brenda.
Seven days after the accident, police are still investigating. The wreck report shows the lane where it happened collapsing and drivers are supposed to merge, but investigators said the driver didn't switch lanes.
The family's lawyer, Eileen Mullen, said the law is clear.
"This caused serious injury to a public service vehicle operator," said Mullen, "therefore, making the driver negligent of a class one felony. Whether it be a tow truck driver, or a police officer, or an EMS personnel, we have this law for a reason."
"She does not necessarily have to go to jail, that's not what we're looking for, but my dad is going to need a lot of help," said Brenda.
ABC11 hasn't identified the driver because she has not been charged. Her insurance company won't help the Roques unless that happens.

Dangerous Duty In B.C.

Martin Butthof is held up by a bystander after he was struck by a car and pinned against his tow truck in Richmond, B.C. Jan. 15, 2012. (CTV)

Our thoughts are with 51-year-old Martin Butthof of British Columbia who was struck by a driver in Richmond, B.C., on Jan. 15 and pinned to his tow truck. One of Butthof's legs was severed and the other was broken in at least seven places. Butthof is an employee of Rusty's Towing. Here's the story from CTV News:

Criminal charges could be laid against the driver of a car that struck a tow-truck driver in Richmond last week, severing the victim's leg and severely damaging the other.
Mounties say they have nearly completed their investigation into the Jan. 15 collision that sent Martin Butthof to hospital in critical condition, and are now waiting for Crown prosecutors to decide if charges will be laid.
"This incident serves as a classic reminder of just how important it is for motorists to slow down and move over when passing emergency and maintenance vehicles," RCMP Cpl. Aaron Sproule said in a release.
"There are laws in place in B.C. requiring us to slow down and move over when passing emergency and maintenance vehicles when their hazard lights are on. Here we have a case where it appears somebody failed to obey that law and as a result we have a tow truck driver in the hospital with serious injuries."
Butthof, 51, was struck after he pulled over to help a man whose vehicle had spun out off the side of Highway 91. He was just in the process of hooking up the damaged vehicle when he was hit and pinned against his tow truck.
"I was just walking back to my truck, and my life changed forever, instantly," Butthof told CTV News on Sunday.
The collision severed one leg from his body and broke the other into about seven pieces, he said. He was set to undergo reconstructive surgery Monday on the remaining leg that will involve replacing a destroyed artery with one from the detached limb.
"I'm still kicking -- well, sort of. I've got one leg to stand on," he said from his hospital bed.
The driver of the car responsible for the crash remained at the scene and spoke with RCMP. Police say that weather and road conditions were poor at the time, but Butthof was operating his amber hazard lights and hazard board. Investigators do not believe the driver was drinking.
The company that Butthof worked for, Rusty's Towing, is taking several new precautions to protect its employees in the wake of the crash, including issuing flares to all drivers.
"A lot of the drivers here are not going to be doing recoveries on the highway until they've got a back-up -- another truck or freeway patrol. It's not worth it," assistant manager Calvin Mitchell said.
With files from CTV British Columbia's Peter Grainger

Sad, Sad News From Ontario

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 49-year-old Paul Rocheleau who died Tuesday, 1/17/12, after being struck on the side of the highway. Rocheleau worked for Sandwich West Towing. Here's the story from The Montreal Gazette:

WINDSOR, Ont. — A 49-year-old Windsor Ont., tow-truck driver, whose last words warned a stranded motorist about speeding traffic on Highway 3, was struck and killed Tuesday by a passing car.
Paul Rocheleau, who was changing a tire in the median of the highway at approximately 11 a.m., when he was struck by a westbound Mercedes-Benz, will be remembered as a fun-loving father and grandfather.
"He was a very outgoing cheerful guy, no matter what," said Ken LaButte, Rocheleau's best friend of 30 years. "He didn't drink. He didn't smoke. He was very health-conscious. He was just an all-around nice guy. If you needed him, he was there for you."
OPP Sgt. Rick Tonial said the tow truck and car were in the median of a westbound lane and appeared to be in a legal spot to change a tire.
"I would say they were well off the roadway, about two feet off the roadway," Tonial said, though investigators had yet to confirm anything. "I believe it would be OK to do that there."
A black Lexus with a flat front passenger tire and a red jack sitting under the vehicle, sat in the median as OPP officers investigated the scene.
Three people were injured. Rocheleau and the driver of the car that hit him were rushed to hospital and Rocheleau later died of massive head and other injuries.
LaButte said Rocheleau remained positive despite tragedy in his life: losing a son and daughter in a fire years ago and the sudden death of a girlfriend.
"Above all that, he kept his chin up," LaButte said. "He had two daughters who he loved very much. And a (two-month-old) grandson. They meant everything to him."
Rocheleau, born and raised in River Canard, a hamlet approximately 10 kilometres south of Windsor, was a longtime motorcycle enthusiast who enjoyed playing pool and was safety conscious with everything he did.
He worked for many years at Maple Leaf Stamping and had spent the last three months as a tow-truck driver.
OPP temporarily closed both lanes of Highway 3, after the fatal accident.
Murray Bryant, 63, of London, was charged with careless driving.
Tuesday afternoon, the Sandwich West Towing truck sat several feet ahead over a toppled median sign, with a damaged front passenger side. About 70 metres ahead on the right side of the road was a Mercedes-Benz with damage to its front driver side.
"He (Rocheleau) had just told me to stand back because people are crazy on this road," said Paul Matteis, of Chatham, Ont., who was a passenger in the car with the flat tire. "The momentum took him and he landed right between the tow truck and the front of the car."
Matteis, who was clutching a rosary and who could not put pressure on his right leg, said the car brushed him as well.
"I was standing by the door handle," he said. "It grazed me and I went toward the car."
His brother David, who had called 911, was on the phone receiving instructions on how to perform CPR when police showed up and tried to revive Rocheleau.
"I could see he wasn't breathing," David said. "I knew he was gone."

TRAA's Legislative & Leadership Conference 2012

SCHEDULE FOR LEGISLATIVE AND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 

MARCH 16-17, 2012

The 15th Annual TRAA Legislative and Leadership Conference will be held at the Crystal City Marriott Hotel, Arlington, VA, on Friday, March 16th and Saturday, March 17th. With industry companies calling for in depth information as to how to increase business, work more efficiently and take advantage of new technology, this year’s theme is “Getting Down To Business.”

The Agenda includes expert s and panels who will share information on marketing strategies, accounting techniques, alternative revenue sources and internet opportunities. Interactive group brainstorming will be based on information gleaned from these presentations.

This year, in order to save on travel time and expense, we have moved the TRAA Board of Directors’ Meeting and General Business Meeting to Saturday afternoon, March 17, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
The entire schedule follows:

TRAA Legislative and Leadership Conference 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
3:00 PM–6:00 PM
WTRAA and TRAA Committee Meetings
6:00 PM–7:30 PM

Welcome Reception
Friday, March 16, 2012
9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Legislative and Leadership Conference
Saturday, March 17, 2012
9:00 AM–Noon
Legislative and Leadership Conference
1:00 PM–5:00 PM
TRAA Board of Directors’ and General Membership Meeting

Dangerous Duty In NY

Unbelievable... another report of a tow truck operator being struck on the side of the road. Please watch out, people, and MOVE OVER!  We hope that Austin Pruitt of Southside Towing makes a fast and full recovery! Here's the story from www.wktv.com:

SHARON, N.Y. (WKTV) - A tow driver from Utica was injured and a Cooperstown woman ticketed after an accident in Schoharie County on Wednesday [1/4/12]  night.
According to Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond, the driver, from Southside Towing on Whitesboro Street in Utica, was loading another vehicle onto his flatbed on Route 20 in the Town of Sharon, just outside of the village.
Sheriff Desmond said that the car being loaded onto the flatbed was then struck by, Elizabeth A. Salerno, 73, of Cooperstown. That car being loaded on the flatbed then struck the tow truck driver, Austin Pruitt, of Southside Towing in Utica. Salerno is then accused of leaving the scene.
Pruitt was taken to Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown via the Sharon Springs Rescue Squad, and was released from the hospital overnight.
Thursday afternoon, Pruitt's co-workers at Southside Towing said he was "all right, but in a neck brace and in a lot of pain."
According to Sheriff Desmond, Salerno was ticketed with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, as well as for not moving over for a tow truck - a new law that took effect in the new year.
Salerno is scheduled to answer those charges in Sharon Town Court on January 18.

Dangerous Duty In OR

We hope that Evan Kavanaugh recovers quickly! Kavanaugh, 30, works for Wiltse's Towing of Salem and was struck as he working to tow a vehicle from the roadside. Here's the story from the Statesman-Journal:

A van sideswiped a tow truck driver, pinning the man to his own rig on Commercial Street SE today.
Salem Police Lt. Keith Blair said the truck had stopped to tow a vehicle from an unrelated traffic stop made by a Salem officer. The driver got out of the Wiltse’s Towing rig when he was hit by a 2003 Ford Windstar van.
According to a crash report, the truck driver was pinned between the van and truck and rolled as the van continued driving, Blair said.
An officer stopped the van near the intersection of Commercial Street SE and Boice Street S. The van’s driver asked what she had done wrong and asked the officer to fix her side view mirror, which had folded during the crash, Blair said.
The woman, who apparently didn’t know she’d hit the driver, was not injured. Police identified her as Mildred Brown, 89, of Jefferson, and said she was given a citation alleging careless driving.
The tow truck driver, Evan Kavanaugh, 30, of Salem, suffered minor injuries. His condition was unknown this evening.

Sad News From PA

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 23-year-old Andrew Smith, who was killed just after midnight on Wednesday, 1/4/12, after being hit by a tractor trailer on the side of the road. Smith worked for HJ Towing & Recovery of Landisburg, PA.

Here's the story from www.abc27.com:

LEMOYNE, Pa. (WHTM) -
A tow truck operator was struck and killed along Route 581 in Cumberland County early Wednesday while assisting the driver of a disabled vehicle.
Andrew Smith, 23, of Landisburg, was hit by a westbound tractor-trailer and died at the scene, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Matthew Stoner.
State police said Smith was in the right shoulder and was attempting to load a disabled Dodge pickup truck onto the flatbed.
He was operating the toggle switch on the driver's side of the tow truck when he was struck in the area of mile post 7.4  in Lemoyne.
The driver of the pickup truck, Adam Knox of Mechanicsburg, was standing on the shoulder near the guardrail and was not hurt.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, identified by police as 63-year-old John Rosenberger Jr. from Newark, N.Y., was also not injured.
No charges have been filed.

Sad News From FL

Sad news from FL. Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 46-year-old Joseph Ricciardelli, an employee with Emerald Towing in Boynton Beach. He died Monday, 1/2/12, after being struck on the side of the highway.

Here's the story from The Palm Beach Post:

BOYNTON BEACH — A tow truck driver was hit and killed by a car on Interstate 95 this afternoon while he was picking up traffic cones, a spokesman with the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Joseph Ricciardelli, an employee with Emerald Towing, had pulled his tow truck over to the side of I-95 south of the Woolbright Road exit to assist the Florida Highway Patrol with towing a car. The owner of that car had been arrested and the car needed to be moved off the road, said Lt. Tim Frith with the Florida Highway Patrol.
As part of his work, Ricciardelli, 46, of Boynton Beach, had put up traffic cones to block off part of the HOV lane. After he had loaded the car onto his tow truck, Ricciardelli began to pick up the traffic cones, Frith said.
At that time, Johnnie V. Knowles of Deerfield Beach was driving northbound on I-95 when the car in front of him apparently braked, slowing down near the police scene, Frith said. Knowles swerved his 1995 Toyota Camry into the HOV lane to avoid hitting the driver in front of him - and instead hit Ricciardelli.
Ricciardelli was transported to Delray Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Knowles was transported to Bethesda Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
The investigation into Ricciardelli's death has not been completed and charges are pending, but that there's no indication at this point that criminal charges will be filed against Knowles, Frith said.

Mark “Chico” Schewirey - SalemNews.net | News, Sports, Jobs, Ohio, Community Information - The Salem News

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Chico Schewirey, 46, who died on 12/28. Schewirey was a tow truck operator and manager for Wertz Towing of Canfield, OH, and he had worked there since he was 14.

Mark “Chico” Schewirey - SalemNews.net | News, Sports, Jobs, Ohio, Community Information - The Salem News:

"CANFIELD-Mark "Chico" Schewirey, 46, of Canfield died of a massive heart attack Wednesday afternoon.

Born June 12, 1965 in Salem, he was the son of Fredrick and Loretta Feicht Schewirey.

Mr. Schewirey was a tow truck operator and manager of Wertz Towing. He had worked for Wertz Towing since he was 14.

In addition to his mother, Loretta Schewirey of Canfield, he leaves his wife, the former Cathy Coy whom he married July 4, 1987; his daughter, Rachel and his son Curtis, both at home; and his brother, David Schewirey of Canfield.

Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m Monday at Lane Funeral Home, Canfield Chapel. Private services will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Schewirey Family for Curtis and Rachel's education.

Family and friends may view this obituary and send condolences at www.lanefuneralhomes.com."

'via Blog this'

MEDIA EVENTS: 'Move Over' Law Expanded

MEDIA EVENTS: 'Move Over' Law Expanded:

'via Blog this'

Hit and Run Kills Tow Operator | NBC Los Angeles

Sad, sad news. Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 40-year-old Chris Tatro, who died Saturday (12/17) evening after being hit on the side of the road while trying to load a disabled vehicle. The driver fled the scene. Tatro worked for Advanced Auto Tow.

Hit and Run Kills Tow Operator | NBC Los Angeles:

Police are seeking the driver of a tan sedan who killed a tow truck a driver in Riverside last night and then fled the scene.

The hit-and-run driver swerved into the tow operator as he tried to load a disabled vehicle onto his flatbed tow truck on the right shoulder of the road on the eastbound side.

The operator has been identified as Christopher Tatro, 40, of Corona, who worked for Advanced Auto Tow. Tatro taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he died on Saturday.

The collision occured at about 2:05 a.m. just west of Monroe Street in Riverside. Witnesses told the California Highway Patrol that the tan sedan continued on afterward, exiting the freeway at Adams Street.

Part of the vehicle was left behind at the scene and officials said they have footage of the tan sedan after the incident occurred.

The CHP is seeking the public's help in tracking down the hit-and-run driver, asking witnesses or others with information to contact the California Highway Patrol, Riverside Area office, at (951) 637-8000.

Dangerous Duty In MI

Here's the story from AnnArbor.com:

A tow truck driver was shot in the foot early Tuesday by a man who was upset that his vehicle had been towed from an apartment complex because he didn't have a parking permit, police said.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Derrick Jackson said deputies responded to a call of shots fired at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 9000 block of MacArthur Boulevard.
Police found that a 31-year-old Ypsilanti Township resident and employee of Discount Towing had been struck once in the foot and the suspect had fled, Jackson said.
Deputies had responded to the area earlier in the night while the employees were towing the suspect's car, Jackson said. The suspect did not have a parking pass for the complex and was upset that his car was being towed, Jackson said.
"Tow truck drivers get this all the time," Jackson said. "It's common practice for them to quickly call us before things escalate."
It wasn't until the employees came back to the complex to check if there were any other cars that needed to be taken from the area that trouble started, Jackson said.
According to Jackson, when police went to the scene earlier, the situation had calmed down and the suspect went back inside while the drivers towed his car and deputies left the area. The employees returned, and while they were leaving, three shots were fired at the vehicle, Jackson said.
The suspect was arrested hours later, Jackson said. The 25-year-old Superior Township man was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail, where he is waiting to be arraigned on charges, Jackson said.
There was no one immediately available at Discount Towing on Tuesday evening to comment on the shooting.
A Nixle alert to the community regarding the shooting was issued by the sheriff’s office Tuesday evening.

Season 2 Premiere Of ‘Lizard Lick Towing’ Draws 2.2 Million Viewers - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers

Season 2 Premiere Of ‘Lizard Lick Towing’ Draws 2.2 Million Viewers - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers: "truTV's hit series Lizard Lick Towing returned to launch its second season last night and came away with a truckload of outstanding numbers. The half-hour season premiere at 10 p.m. delivered 2.2 million viewers, up a remarkable 30% over the show's February launch. The episode also scored 621,000 adults 18-34 (+34%); 1.2 million adults 18-49 (+24%); 404,000 men 18-34 (+73%); and 740,000 men 18-49 (+43%).

For the 10 p.m. timeslot, Lizard Lick Towing ranked among basic cable's Top 5 programs with men 18-34 and men 18-49. It also ranked among the Top 5 entertainment programs with total viewers and adults 18-49."

'via Blog this'

Tow truck run brings toys to kids - San Jose Mercury News

Tow truck run brings toys to kids - San Jose Mercury News: "More than 30 tow trucks from 12 companies drove from San Jose to Fremont on Saturday to deliver hundreds of toys for less fortunate children to Bridges Community Church.
Dino Tomassi, owner of Finish Line Tow and a member of the church's "Band of Brothers" Men's Club, started the drive three years ago to reach out to the community.
The drive, called the Bay Area Tow Truck Toy Run, comprises members of the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the California Tow Truck Association.
Volunteers were treated to a pancake breakfast at the Mission San Jose church, and Santa Claus portrayed by Mission Pass Tow and Transport owner Walt White, made an appearance at 505 Driscoll Road."

'via Blog this'

Round of Applause! B/A Products

B/A Products' founder Mel Berman and sons-in-law Fritz Dahlman and Chip Kauffman present a check to Bill Gratzianna and Troy Barnett of the ITRHFM.

Kudos to B/A Products for raising $15,000 for the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum during the company's auction on Nov. 18 during their Fifth Annual Open House. The money will be split equally between the museum and the Survivor Fund. The event was attended by more than 500 members of the towing and recovery community who were in Baltimore for the American Towman Expo. 

Cross Country Network News: Cross Country Announcement: Branding Changes Coming Soon

Cross Country Network News: Cross Country Announcement: Branding Changes Coming Soon:

Cross Country Automotive Services has been going through a rebranding effort over the past few months to better unite ourselves and ATX Group (a telematics organization which we acquired a couple of years ago) under one brand. We are very excited to announce that our new brand, Agero® was launched for our automotive and insurance clients on Monday, December 5.
The new Agero brand will officially launch for our Service Providers on March 1, 2012.
New Look – Same Great Benefits for Our ProvidersWhile you may start to see a new look on some of our applications and web portals next spring, in no way will this re-brand affect billing or invoice processes, rates/territories, performance management, or any other best practices currently in place at Cross Country. Argosi.net will continue to be your go to, online billing and performance portal. As we near the roll out of the Agero brand for our Service Provider community in March, further communications will be sent detailing the new look and feel that may be applied to some existing applications. However, again, the impact of the new brand on your day to day operations and communications with us will be minimal.
We continue to strive to be the best motor club to work with and we are confident as we enter this next chapter of our organizational story, our services, innovation and leadership will only continue to flourish and get stronger. We are proud to offer our Service Providers the most volume in the industry, the largest variety of dispatch options, a one of a kind discount Perks program to access business essentials, and the most comprehensive resources and training outlets available.
For further information on our new branding update, please take a moment to review the resources below:

• Branding: Frequently Asked Questions

• Press Release – TowTimes.com

• Agero.com

We appreciate your continued service and all of the hard work of our Service Provider partners. The best is yet to come.

Tow truck operators could face additional background scrutiny « IdahoReporter.com

Tow truck operators could face additional background scrutiny « IdahoReporter.com:

Idaho State Police (ISP) is planning to bring legislation forward in the next legislative session asking for a more thorough background check for tow truck driver operators who tow for the agency.
Currently in Idaho, there is a law allowing ISP to run background checks on operators who tow for them based on their records within the state. The legislation would expand the parameters to all 50 states. Meaning, if a tow truck operator wants to be part of ISP’s tow rotation, not only would any criminal record in Idaho be subject to review, but any record in the other 49 states would be as well.
Sgt. Sam Ketchum, with Region 3 of ISP, explained, “We currently do a background check on all of our tow truck operators that are on our tow truck rotations as it concerns the state police. Obviously, we try not to let criminals or felons, or people like that tow for us because they are securing property that we’ve taken people away from.”
The proposed legislation came as a surprise to Randy Colson, president of Idaho Towing and Recovery Professionals. He said he was under the impression that background checks like this are already done. “To the best of my knowledge they already do that. So, I don’t know enough about it (legislation), I guess, to give you a very intelligent comment truth be known.”
Ketchum said, “The thing that the legislation is doing is expanding it so we can check all 50 states for their (tow truck operator) background as opposed to just Idaho’s. So right now, as it stands, say tow operator A wants to apply to state police to be on our rotation. We will do a background check, but only in Idaho. So whatever they have done in other states, we don’t know about. … If they want to get on the rotation then they know they have to submit a packet and submit to these things (background checks). All we’re doing is expanding the opportunity for us to look outside just the state of Idaho. We’re going to look at all 50 states.”
Ketchum said that there are around 50 tow truck operators on the voluntary tow rotation for ISP in Region 3, based out of Meridian. Region 3 covers 10 southwest counties: Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington. There are six regions in the state, with other centers in Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Jerome, Pocatello and Idaho Falls.
Think about the scene of an accident. If your vehicle is disabled requiring a tow, it and whatever is in it are out of sight and control of the owner. Ketchum said that because someone’s property is being essentially taken away and put in the hands of the tow truck operator, ISP doesn’t just look for felonies or heinous crimes, but also crimes against people or possessions.
“We look for felonies is the big thing,” said Ketchum. “We look for any kind of crimes against people such as petty theft, burglary, things like that. When we need a tow truck, basically we have removed the driver from their property either through arrest or crash or a motorist assist or something. Because we are removing them from that property we want to make sure that person who is coming to get that vehicle is somewhat responsible. Obviously we don’t want them to have this background of theft, or violence, or things like that. We’re turning property over to them.”
In Idaho in 2010, there were 7,729 single vehicle accidents and 14,826 multi-vehicle accidents. ISP was the lead investigator in 3,683 of the accidents, or an average of 10 crashes per day. In all, ISP is responsible for patrolling 60,000 miles of roadway in the state.

McDonnell seeks to scrap two state agencies | Richmond Times-Dispatch

McDonnell seeks to scrap two state agencies | Richmond Times-Dispatch:

In his latest attempt at slimming the bureaucracy, Gov. Bob McDonnell will ask state lawmakers to dissolve two state agencies, scrap 19 boards and commissions, and deregulate hair braiders.

He also is seeking to merge about a half-dozen state agencies into others and to winnow 23 boards and commissions into 11, according to a proposed reorganization his office released Tuesday.

An early estimate by the Department of Planning and Budget pegs savings from the reforms at about $2 million a year.

McDonnell proposes axing two agencies — the Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority and the Board of Towing and Recovery Operators.

The proposal does not specify what would happen to employees of any of the agencies, but McDonnell spokesman Jeff Caldwell said Tuesday that "there will be efficiencies and staff reductions as a result of agency mergers, resulting in a savings for the taxpayers."

"There may be some opportunities for staff transfers to the new, merged agency, but those details have not been finalized," he said.

Some of the ideas McDonnell suggests spring from the ongoing work of his government reform and restructuring commission. Now in its second year, the panel made nearly 40 recommendations to the governor last week.

Del. Robert H. Brink, D-Arlington, who serves on the reform commission, said that in some cases, such as consolidating several social services agencies, the proposed action "cleans up the organization chart, but it's not going to save any money because the back-office operations already are consolidated."

"I think that's typical of a lot of these recommendations," he said of the commission's list. "They really aren't going to accomplish that much and even though the charge of the commission was to think big, I really don't think there's a lot of big thinking going on here."

Part of that stems from having a state government that has been called the best-managed in the nation, he said. "You're operating a pretty lean operation as it is."

McDonnell also issued two executive directives to make changes administratively, ranging from looking at expanding a pilot program of a four-day, 10-hour work-week schedule to streamlining policy and paperwork requirements for state employee time, attendance and leave.

"This coming General Assembly session we intend to advance even bolder reforms to reduce waste and ensure that we are providing the best services to our citizens in the most fiscally responsible manner," McDonnell said in a release.

The governor, who is in Orlando, Fla., through Thursday leading his first Republican Governors Association meeting, said the reforms he wants to advance "include eliminating two state agencies whose functions duplicate work already being done elsewhere."

The agency mergers are intended to streamline the delivery of services, he said. He chose to collapse boards and commissions that duplicate efforts or if he found them to be "no longer an efficient use of state resources."

Also, three professions would no longer be regulated by the state: hair braiders, mold inspectors and remediators, and interior designers.

omeola@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6812

'via Blog this'