Illegal Towing
#1
07-18-2006, 10:35 PM
Illegal Towing
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dw...g.866924f.html
While AJ's Towing of Dallas continues to tow cars—despite the fact the company's business license expired in June—the city said they have few tools to legally shut the company down unless the public comes forward.
One Dallas woman did just that after her car was broken into by an AJ's Towing wrecker driver and then hauled off. Heather Blankenship's car was towed in a lot that displayed no warning sign, which the city says is illegal.
While there were no signs in the lot Wednesday when News 8 visited the site, a sign appeared the following day.
While Blankenship came forward and the company has no license, the company continues to operate.
The penalty for any towing company operating without a business license may sound like a slap on the wrist to many—a $500 fine.
On an average night, a tow truck driver can make that much money for his company in an hour with two or three tows.
Dallas authorities said while they would like to start an investigation against AJ's Towing immediately, they can't.
"We need people that they tow to contact us so we can issue an outside complaint and take it to municipal court," said Gary Titlow, the city's manager of transportation regulation.
The city must get two convictions against the company within a year before it can begin to shut A.J.'s down.
But then there's another problem.
While the towing company's business license expired in June and they continue to haul off cars, the city still can't shut them down.
"...Unfortunately we don't operate under that premise," Titlow said.
Video of Blankenship's towing incident was captured on a camera phone. It shows that the wrecker driver make four attempts before securing the car and prying the door open to take off the emergency brake. When the driver set off the car's alarm system, he crawled under the car to tear out the wiring.
"[They were] bound and determined to tow my car from a place that doesn't even say a towing zone," Blankenship said.
Blakenship said she wants her car repaired, the towing fees refunded and she doesn't want this to happen to anyone else again.
One Dallas woman did just that after her car was broken into by an AJ's Towing wrecker driver and then hauled off. Heather Blankenship's car was towed in a lot that displayed no warning sign, which the city says is illegal.
While there were no signs in the lot Wednesday when News 8 visited the site, a sign appeared the following day.
While Blankenship came forward and the company has no license, the company continues to operate.
The penalty for any towing company operating without a business license may sound like a slap on the wrist to many—a $500 fine.
On an average night, a tow truck driver can make that much money for his company in an hour with two or three tows.
Dallas authorities said while they would like to start an investigation against AJ's Towing immediately, they can't.
"We need people that they tow to contact us so we can issue an outside complaint and take it to municipal court," said Gary Titlow, the city's manager of transportation regulation.
The city must get two convictions against the company within a year before it can begin to shut A.J.'s down.
But then there's another problem.
While the towing company's business license expired in June and they continue to haul off cars, the city still can't shut them down.
"...Unfortunately we don't operate under that premise," Titlow said.
Video of Blankenship's towing incident was captured on a camera phone. It shows that the wrecker driver make four attempts before securing the car and prying the door open to take off the emergency brake. When the driver set off the car's alarm system, he crawled under the car to tear out the wiring.
"[They were] bound and determined to tow my car from a place that doesn't even say a towing zone," Blankenship said.
Blakenship said she wants her car repaired, the towing fees refunded and she doesn't want this to happen to anyone else again.
#3
07-19-2006, 03:35 PM
Post Fiend
#4
07-19-2006, 09:44 PM
Well the more people that are aware of what they are doing they will get shut down and if people raise cane at city hall.
We need people that they tow to contact us so we can issue an outside complaint and take it to municipal court," said Gary Titlow, the city's manager of transportation regulation.
The city must get two convictions against the company within a year before it can begin to shut A.J.'s down.
The city must get two convictions against the company within a year before it can begin to shut A.J.'s down.
#5
07-20-2006, 11:32 AM
Posting Guru
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Bryan/College Station
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
