News & Events

Saturday, August 14, 2010...

Tyler, TX... The Southwest Tow Operators Region 7 meeting was held at Hallman's Truck and Trailer Training Center. The meeting had 30 - 40 attendees present. The very informative meeting started with opening remarks by State Representative Leo Berman discussing towing issues and the upcoming legislation, that will deal with redistricting issues, among many other important issues of budget and spending. He spoke of the new professional tower being one to be proud of and encouraged the industry to continue to seek ways to better itself and public image. He ended saying that his offices will ALWAYS be open to towers and he respects the duties they perform, as well as the risks they take.

Joann Messina, Treasurer and Legislative Chair for STO, and Jess Horton, Executive Director of STO, and Ron McHam, Region 7 Director, followed a strong agenda that included New Rules adopted by TDLR, the new PPI Fee Caps also adopted by TDLR Commission, upcoming legislative items for the next legislation that starts in January of 2011, Regional elections for Regional Representatives, strengthening the Region by pushing local participation and industry community involvement, and law enforcement issues and solutions.

Tom Bledsoe, of DPS, was present and was there to gather info on the possible expansion of enforcement by DPS on towing regulation, such as illegal towers in the Region.

The discussions were very interesting and the meeting reflected a change in the industry direction of seeking solutions for local and Regional issues, rather than letting the State issues remain dominant on their focus to strengthen the industry there. Most of the issues, again, surrounded law enforcement issues, and many members expressed the interest in education programs from TDLR, and programs that could be put together to bring to those law enforcement themselves.

Region officers present were Director Ron McHam, Region Representative Jim Fuller, and Region Representative Sherry Terry.. The meeting location was made possible by the participation of Jason Burroughs, of Absolute Towing & Recovery. Lunch was sponsored by Beckett Fuel.

Pictures will be posted once they arrive at the STO Main office.

STO steps up the notch on its new Regional meeting formats by having special panels with TDLR representatives and elected State Representatives for towing and VSF issues and discussions. The meeting was a smashing success, not only in the numbers attending, but with the electrifying atmosphere that consumed the meeting.... Congratulations to the members of Region 4 for being perfect hosts!

This new formatted meeting style will be placed in all Regional Meeting across the state, in order to educate those that govern us and those that legislate our industries. You can do you part by inviting your state representative to your next Regional meeting and start getting them on board and see just how proud and professional our industries really Are!!

Thanks Ramiro for making it happen, and all of the hard working members of Region 4!

TDLR has revised the release form sent out on June 14, 2010. The revised version of form VSF011-1 can be found on the Tow Truck/VSF Forms page of TDLR's website. This form replaces the version of this form sent out June 14.

All Vehicle Storage Facilities must immediately begin using this version of form VSF011-1 when releasing a stored vehicle, when allowing access to the vehicle by an insurance adjuster, or when allowing access by a representative of the owner.

The form may also be Viewed and Downloaded HERE!

TDLR has revised and consolidated the five VSF release forms into a single form. The new form, VSF011, is found on the Towing/VSF Forms page of TDLR's website.

This form replaces Affidavit of Right of Possession (Form VSF009), Notice of Right of Possession for Salvage or Repair (Form VSF 006), Specific Power of Attorney (VSF 007) and the Proof of Loss Claim Form (VSF 008) and Appointment of Authorized Representative for Inspection of Motor Vehicle (VSF 005).

All Vehicle Storage Facilities must begin using this form, VSF011, when releasing a stored vehicle, when allowing access to the vehicle by an insurance adjuster or when allowing access by a representative of the owner. Form VSF011 is the new release form to be used effective immediately.

This is a mandatory change in forms, so please discard the following forms, as they are no longer any good:

• Affidavit of Right of Possession (Form VSF009)
• Notice of Right of Possession for Salvage or Repair (Form VSF 006)
• Specific Power of Attorney (VSF 007)
• Proof of Loss Claim Form (VSF 008)
• Appointment of Authorized Representative for Inspection of Motor Vehicle (VSF 005)

You can also get the New form at Southwest Tow Operators website by clicking here!

Thank You

Jess Horton

Executive Director

Southwest Tow Operators

(972) 247-9454

(972) 247-1605 FAX

May 19, 2010, STO had a chance to look at the Private Property Tow Fee Study by Morningside Research, at the TDLR Towing, Booting, and Storage Advisory Board Meeting in Austin. After you have a chance to review it, please let us know what you think. Then after the initial shock, tell us what you think should be changed. EVERYONE needs to assist with this so that we can make the right push to correct items that will be added to the final recommendation by the Advisory Board to the TDLR Commission. Here is a copy of the report that was handed to TDLR on May 14th. Click on the image below:

This notice is provided to inform you that the administrative rules for 16 TAC

• Chapter 85, Vehicle Storage Facilities;
  
• Chapter 86, Vehicle Towing and Booting; and
  
• Chapter 89,Vehicle Booting and Immobilization
  

adopted at the April 6, 2010, meeting of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation have been updated.

The adoption was filed with the Texas Register on April 13, 2010, and published in the April 30, 2010, issue of the Texas Register (35 TexReg 3482, 3486, and 3492). 

TDLR encourages all persons interested in the vehicle storage facilities, vehicle towing and booting, and the vehicle booting and immobilization programs to review the adopted rules. The rules are posted on TDLR’s web site at http://www.license.state.tx.us/towing/towing.htm .

The Towing, Storage and Booting Advisory Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. in the 1st Floor Public Meeting Room of TDLR's North Campus Building, located at 1106 Clayton Lane in Austin.  Once an agenda has been finalized, it will be posted on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation web site.

The major item that will be discussed will be over the Private Property Fee Report by Morningside Research. They will disclose their recommendations on how they propose that TDLR set the fee caps on Private Property Tows.

2010 Ford Transit Connect Winner Lays Claim to Prize!

May 5th, 2010. Dallas, TX.... Michael Brashear, of M & D Towing, out of Dallas, TX, is the winner of the 2010 For Transit Connect Service Vehicle. The Transit Connect was raffled off at the 2010 Tow Expo International in Houston, TX on May 1st and Michael was the winning ticket drawn. He had purchased the ticket online at the STO website. All proceeds will go to the "In the Line of Duty" Benevolent Fund, by Southwest Tow Operators and to The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum Survivor Fund. In the past year, STO has issued over 8 checks to families of fallen towers across Texas.

Dan Messina (left), STO Executive Board President, and Jess Horton (right), STO Executive Director, present the keys to the 2010 Ford Transit Connect to Michael Brashear (center), of M&D Towing, on May 5, 2010.

After 6 months of showing off the Transit Connect, what has been called the "Service Truck of the Future", from Baltimore, MD, and all throughout Texas, it made its final appearance at the Tow Expo. The vehicle was presented at over 12 meetings across Texas, and one in Arkansas. An estimated 14,000 towers had the chance to view the service vehicle first hand. The raffle was made possible by a special pricing from Ford Motor Company, that unveiled the Transit Connect in 2010. AW Direct completely outfitted the vehicle with it's entire Roadside Assistance Vehicle package, making it fully equipped and ready to work right away. The vehicle wrap was sponsored by Farmer's Insurance.


Southwest Tow Operators would like to thank all of the individuals and companies that purchased the raffle tickets to help support these funds for families of fallen towers. We would like to thank Ford Mortor Company, AW Direct, American Towman, and Farmer's Insurance for making this a reality. If you would like to donate to these funds and further assist these families, please contact Southwest Tow Operators at (972) 247-9454 or email at mail@swtowop.org. 

As many of you may know, and for you that do not know, the Booting industry was brought under regulation in the last legislation session of June, 2009. The Booting industry was placed under the current Towing statutes, and therefore were placed under the same regulation of TDLR. As there are many differences in towing and booting, the rules had to differentiate the two industries from existing rules for towing, and the new rules for the booting industry. One of these issues that played a major role in how Tow Signs would be changed in the rules making process became a rather heated topic.

The new Statute (Law) says that the tow signs must read "Towing and Booting Enforced" and also "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed or Booted At Owner's Or Operator's Expense". The "Booting" was added in the new laws with the existing language for Towing. This created some tremendous confusion, not only in the towing industry, but within TDLR itself, as they are strict interpreters of the statute (law).

TDLR had come to the conclusion, at the time, that All tow signs on all properties must have the new language on them. This would have caused an over-burdensome cost on not only the towers, but to the millions of businesses that would have to pay for these new signs.

After some great work from members in the industry and within TDLR, the new rule was announced by Charles Johnson during the last Towing, Storage and Booting Advisory Board meeting on March 31, 2010, as well as at the TDLR Commission Meeting on April 6, 2010. Mr. Johnson, TDLR's General Council, said that he had received many comments and concerns from the industry, as well as an "Intent Letter" from Senator Whitmire explaining that the intent of the law was to not mandate all towing signs to be changed, and that it was intended for only those signs of properties that perform Booting would require the additional language. As a result, TDLR took the industries stand, as well as Sen. Whitmire's intended opinion, and changed their initial interpretation of this law and allowed the rule to state that only properties that perform booting of any kind must include the "Booting" in the tow signs. Furthermore, if no booting was performed on a property, including "Booting" was not necessary and therefore not mandated to be added. 

Here is what is needed on the tow signs:

If there is any booting on the property at all, the signs should have:

Top of Sign:

• "Towing and Booting Enforced At All Times" (If there is towing and booting enforced 24 hours a day)
• "Towing and Booting Enforced - 8:00AM to 6:00PM" (If there is a certain time period that towing and booting is performed. The times are only examples.)

Elsewhere on sign, usually at bottom:

• "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed or Booted at Owner's or Operator's Expense"

If there is ONLY towing on the property, and no booting at all, the signs should have:

Top of Sign:

• "Towing Enforced At All Times" (If there is towing and booting enforced 24 hours a day)
• "Towing Enforced - 8:00AM to 6:00PM" (If there is a certain time period that towing and booting is performed. The times are only examples.)

Elsewhere on sign, usually at bottom:

• "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed at Owner's or Operator's Expense"

TDLR has stated that they will also send out a notice of this as well through their Update email system, as well as post a FAQ on their website for this matter. If you have any questions on the tow sign issue, please call STO anytime and we will address any suggestions or concerns you may have. That phone number is:

(972) 247-9454

Thank You,

Jess Horton
Executive Director