| It's Your Vehicle and Money Dishonest towing companies, storage facilities, parking facilities engaging in organized criminal activity against the motoring public for financial gain. |
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Texas Attorney General Finally Decides to Investigate Towing Companies
AG Abbott, states “We're going to undertake an exhaustive investigation.” more
AG Abbott, states “We're going to undertake an exhaustive investigation.” more
Vehicle Door Locks Not Working?
It is not uncommon for a wrecker driver to damage the door locks of a vehicle, more
It is not uncommon for a wrecker driver to damage the door locks of a vehicle, more
| #1 Law Enforcement Agency for Enforcing Criminal Illegal Towing 512-974-8122 512-974-5764 |
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South Texas under Attack by Criminal Illegal Towing Tactics
It makes no difference what part of Texas you’re in, your chances of being victimized, more
It makes no difference what part of Texas you’re in, your chances of being victimized, more
because there are none of the required signage required by State Law.
Front Gate off Bering
This latest towing scam consist of 50 or more vehicles, all towed from the Tuscany Apartments located at 1100 Bering,
Houston, Texas by Arrow Towing TDLR # 005240791C.
Illegal Handicap Space Towing Scam - No Handicap Sign Posted
have vehicles towed at her discretion, even though the Texas Towing Law prohibits towing without the required
notification. Based on the victims that have contacted me, they were being towed for being parked in a space with a
handicap emblem painted on the pavement, but lacking the required handicap sign needed in order to remove a
vehicle from the parking space.
Back Gate
One has to wonder what curriculum these wrecker operators are being taught when it involves compliance with State
Law. Supposedly, the wrecker operators working for Arrow Towing are TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing &
Regulations) licensed after completing certain educational courses. The wrecker operators that are involved in this
towing scam at The Tuscany should have their license suspended, one for not recognizing there are none of the
required red and white towing signs posted at every curb cut, and two, no handicap sign posted in the front of space.
The Texas Legislature begins Tuesday, January 13th at Noon and I believe we will see many changes in the current
Texas Towing Act, that will make the first major impact into this continuing criminal activity by wrecker operators and
parking facility owners.
Due to the large number of illegal towing victims, a DTPA should be filed by the victims against The Richdale Group and
Arrow Towing for their deceptive trade actions.
Front Gate off Bering
This latest towing scam consist of 50 or more vehicles, all towed from the Tuscany Apartments located at 1100 Bering,
Houston, Texas by Arrow Towing TDLR # 005240791C.
Illegal Handicap Space Towing Scam - No Handicap Sign Posted
have vehicles towed at her discretion, even though the Texas Towing Law prohibits towing without the required
notification. Based on the victims that have contacted me, they were being towed for being parked in a space with a
handicap emblem painted on the pavement, but lacking the required handicap sign needed in order to remove a
vehicle from the parking space.
Back Gate
One has to wonder what curriculum these wrecker operators are being taught when it involves compliance with State
Law. Supposedly, the wrecker operators working for Arrow Towing are TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing &
Regulations) licensed after completing certain educational courses. The wrecker operators that are involved in this
towing scam at The Tuscany should have their license suspended, one for not recognizing there are none of the
required red and white towing signs posted at every curb cut, and two, no handicap sign posted in the front of space.
The Texas Legislature begins Tuesday, January 13th at Noon and I believe we will see many changes in the current
Texas Towing Act, that will make the first major impact into this continuing criminal activity by wrecker operators and
parking facility owners.
Due to the large number of illegal towing victims, a DTPA should be filed by the victims against The Richdale Group and
Arrow Towing for their deceptive trade actions.
| Dishonesty Within Towing Industry Hurts Everyone, Consumers & Trucking Industry |
although, none of them ever thought it was necessary to deceive a customer, regardless the situation, when it involved the towing fee(s).
The incident in Bexar and Harris Counties where two different towing companies, both charging an unauthorized towing fee, while one of
these companies, "tampered with a governmental record" by marking up the original receipt for towing to coincide with their nonconsent tow
fee schedule submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.
As shown above in the two pictures, you can see that the tractor (truck) and the trailer were altogether being towed with one heavy duty
wrecker. This is how tractor trailers drive on the highways, as one unit, but, some towing company owners feel the rush to charge a towing
fee for the trailer, when the trailer was never hooked up or attached to a wrecker, during the time that tractor trailer (one unit) was transported
to the storage facility.
As in both incidents, neither parking facility, complied with the Occupations Code 2308.252.
Had a sign as shown below been posted at the Flying J by Milstead Towing, the towing of all 23 of those tractor trailers would still be illegal
because the towing sign is illegal itself for failing to bears the words "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed at Owner's or Operator's
Expense", as required in Occupation Code 2308.301(b)(5).
All I can say, is that anyone who has been towed from any parking facility with a "Milstead Towing" sign posted as shown above, should
seek an attorney and pursue action against the parking facility, since the statute of limitation is two years.
Between the illegal towing sign, the unauthorized charging of a second towing fee, and the various violations with the paperwork given to the
consumer, this should be more than enough to prove that Amy Milstead- Ellzey is not qualified to advise the very state agency that regulates
her business. These errors in judgment is ample reason to remove her from the Towing and Storage Advisory Board for the Texas
Department of Licensing & Regulations.
Illegal towing victims in the Houston region should call Rich Robins at 713-574-6279, as he can assist you, the victim in getting everything
your entitled to.
Had either of these incidents happened in Austin, Texas, these individuals that participated in this criminal conduct would have been
arrested for auto theft, by the Austin Police Department Wrecker Enforcement Unit.
Yesterday, I attended and testified at the Tow Hearing of Robert Brown vs. Best Transport (TDLR 005669600). The person who appeared
before the Court on behalf of Best Transport was James Thompson (TDLR 4056), who several times told the Court that the Occupation
Code 2308 was inaccurate, which got some frowns from the Judge.
Mr. Thompson said he had the right to have Mr. Brown’s tractor trailer (leased to United Van Lines) towed and stored at Best’s storage
facility (TDLR 0577835VSF) without any of the required notification requirements of Occupation Code 2308.252.
Then good part comes up, regarding the towing receipt(s) for the tow truck that actually towed Mr. Brown’s truck, since according to the
TDLR TOOLS search revealed at Best Transport only has one tow truck being a ton and half rollback, unable to tow a tractor trailer. Mr.
Thompson testified that issue was not reevaluate to the issue, but Mr. Brown countered it is because Best failed to provide the document
required to be given when a vehicle is released from the storage facility.
Then, the Judge asked me if I had anything to add, matter of fact, I did.
“I told the Court that document provided to the consumer were not in compliance with Rules and Regulations of the Texas Department of
Licensing & Regulation. The documents given to the consumer provided outdated statute numbers, incomplete Rights to Stored Vehicle
Owner or Operator, the parking facility failed to have signs posted 24 hours prior to towing, and that Mr. Thompson took a test in order to be
issued an Wrecker Operator License from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation that covered the very issue he violated”.
My opinion of this entire Court proceeding was that Mr. Thompson failed to prove to the Court that Probable Cause existed to have Mr. Brown’
s truck towed, in short, it was stolen and theft was committed when James Thompson forced Robert Brown to pay a fee of over $1500 to
retrieve his vehicle.
TDLR should suspend Mr. Thompson’s license (4056) for blatantly violating State Law in this matter.
If the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation Commission does not issue a large fine, not to mention suspensions in these criminal
illegal towing incidents, the public will deeply disappointed.
No company is above the State Law and we expect Texas regulatory agencies to hold licensees responsible for their actions.
The parking facility is the responsible party for bringing their parking areas into compliance with the Texas Towing Law, at their expense. As
we have it now, towing companies bribe property managers with perks such as free signage, free parking lot striping, free towing of office
staff vehicles, and paid vacation to casinos. Of course, as it is today, due to Federal Preemption and a Class C Misdemeanor, towing
companies are towing vehicles by the hundreds illegally because they know that the law enforcement agency is not going to do anything,
much less allows a citizen to file an offense report for an illegal tow, to be investigated by a detective.
Since the wrecker drivers are now supposed to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, if the current written test
given to all applicants, does not include a question, “can I tow a vehicle without the vehicle owner’s consent for a permit violation with no red
and white towing sign posted”? The answer should be no, and the wrecker driver has the responsibility upon entering a parking facility, that
the red and white towing sign, is legal, and posted prior to towing the vehicle. This is an area of the Law, that a majority of wrecker drivers
are not adequately trained to make a determination if the reason they are going to tow a vehicle is legal.
Being a former General Manager for the Largest Private Property towing company in San Antonio, drivers where provided with a “list” of patrol
and limited patrol accounts with the violation codes. The wrecker drivers were hired for one purpose, bring impounds to the storage lot,
which is no different than what other towing companies do. I have seen on more than occasion, were a local Austin towing company, sent 3
tow trucks into a large apartment complex, towed of 30 vehicles within an hour, towed impounds behind a building away from the site, this is
called “stashing”, then have their company rollbacks transport the impounds to the vehicle storage facility.
Sadly, this goes on daily.
The licensing of Registered Sex Offenders and Murderers by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, for Occupation Licenses,
must be stopped. A 17 year old female consumer calls for a tow truck and the driver of the tow truck who arrives is a Serial Rapist, but the 17
year old is not aware that the guy is a Registered Sex Offender. Is the State of Texas willing to risk bodily injury or even rape of a female
consumer by licensing these types convicts? The protocol for deciding which convicted felons receives an Occupation License is severely
flawed and should be addressed now!
I recall that an Austin towing company employed a convicted murderer released on parole. This individual (Al Norman) blew up after vehicle
owner’s wife started calling Norman a whole lot vulgar words, Norman approached the woman and struck her with a baseball bat, then turn
on her husband still in a wheelchair and punched him 3 to 4 times before driving way their vehicle. After a couple of years in the courts, a
judgment was rendered in the amount of $80,000, that towing company paid.
The argument that towing signs get knocked now, so do highway signs, the bottom line is of the sign if constructed with the right material
and anchored in the ground, they will not be knocked down. Again, this is the responsibility of the parking facility, not the towing company.
The issue about where the tow hearing is to be heard by a Judge, as of now, the hearing is held in the precinct that the storage facility is
located in. One of the reasons it changed in the last session of the Legislature was because I was ill much of the session, unable to attend
the meetings. Now, this session being January 15th, I plan to lobby several members both in the house and senate, because these issues
about illegal towing are a nonpartisan, I am sure that every member of the Legislature has heard about tragic event regarding towing in their
district.
In the original writing of “Rights to Stored Vehicle Owner” written by myself in 1995, specially called for the Tow Hearing to be heard in the
precinct where the parking facility is located. The reason for this was to give residents, who are also voters, the right to have their Tow
Hearing heard by a Justice of Peace they are given the opportunity to vote for or against.
As it now, in the Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, El Paso, Robstown, McAllen and even here in Austin, towing companies are towing vehicle to
another city or different Justice of the Peace jurisdiction. It’s already been proven that several judges that hear towing case are recipients of
big campaign contributors from the towing companies.
This mentality of it’s a civil matter needs to change!
If probable cause does not exist to take a $40,000 vehicle, a licensed wrecker driver, should be arrested, if he/she tows the vehicle, bottom
line! As it is now, wrecker drivers are breaking into tractor trailers (18 wheelers), got wiring the ignition, then driving them to the storage lot
and turnaround charging the owner or operator two towing fees, one for the tractor, one for the trailer.
With Federal Preemption in place, the only viable way to deal with these devastating and aggressive towing companies is to place the
licensee under arrest and be prosecuted in a Court of Law for violating the Texas Towing Law.
Until this happens, these problems we are seeing today will only get worse!
we have it now, towing companies bribe property managers with perks such as free signage, free parking lot striping, free towing of office
staff vehicles, and paid vacation to casinos. Of course, as it is today, due to Federal Preemption and a Class C Misdemeanor, towing
companies are towing vehicles by the hundreds illegally because they know that the law enforcement agency is not going to do anything,
much less allows a citizen to file an offense report for an illegal tow, to be investigated by a detective.
Since the wrecker drivers are now supposed to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, if the current written test
given to all applicants, does not include a question, “can I tow a vehicle without the vehicle owner’s consent for a permit violation with no red
and white towing sign posted”? The answer should be no, and the wrecker driver has the responsibility upon entering a parking facility, that
the red and white towing sign, is legal, and posted prior to towing the vehicle. This is an area of the Law, that a majority of wrecker drivers
are not adequately trained to make a determination if the reason they are going to tow a vehicle is legal.
Being a former General Manager for the Largest Private Property towing company in San Antonio, drivers where provided with a “list” of patrol
and limited patrol accounts with the violation codes. The wrecker drivers were hired for one purpose, bring impounds to the storage lot,
which is no different than what other towing companies do. I have seen on more than occasion, were a local Austin towing company, sent 3
tow trucks into a large apartment complex, towed of 30 vehicles within an hour, towed impounds behind a building away from the site, this is
called “stashing”, then have their company rollbacks transport the impounds to the vehicle storage facility.
Sadly, this goes on daily.
The licensing of Registered Sex Offenders and Murderers by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, for Occupation Licenses,
must be stopped. A 17 year old female consumer calls for a tow truck and the driver of the tow truck who arrives is a Serial Rapist, but the 17
year old is not aware that the guy is a Registered Sex Offender. Is the State of Texas willing to risk bodily injury or even rape of a female
consumer by licensing these types convicts? The protocol for deciding which convicted felons receives an Occupation License is severely
flawed and should be addressed now!
I recall that an Austin towing company employed a convicted murderer released on parole. This individual (Al Norman) blew up after vehicle
owner’s wife started calling Norman a whole lot vulgar words, Norman approached the woman and struck her with a baseball bat, then turn
on her husband still in a wheelchair and punched him 3 to 4 times before driving way their vehicle. After a couple of years in the courts, a
judgment was rendered in the amount of $80,000, that towing company paid.
The argument that towing signs get knocked now, so do highway signs, the bottom line is of the sign if constructed with the right material
and anchored in the ground, they will not be knocked down. Again, this is the responsibility of the parking facility, not the towing company.
The issue about where the tow hearing is to be heard by a Judge, as of now, the hearing is held in the precinct that the storage facility is
located in. One of the reasons it changed in the last session of the Legislature was because I was ill much of the session, unable to attend
the meetings. Now, this session being January 15th, I plan to lobby several members both in the house and senate, because these issues
about illegal towing are a nonpartisan, I am sure that every member of the Legislature has heard about tragic event regarding towing in their
district.
In the original writing of “Rights to Stored Vehicle Owner” written by myself in 1995, specially called for the Tow Hearing to be heard in the
precinct where the parking facility is located. The reason for this was to give residents, who are also voters, the right to have their Tow
Hearing heard by a Justice of Peace they are given the opportunity to vote for or against.
As it now, in the Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, El Paso, Robstown, McAllen and even here in Austin, towing companies are towing vehicle to
another city or different Justice of the Peace jurisdiction. It’s already been proven that several judges that hear towing case are recipients of
big campaign contributors from the towing companies.
This mentality of it’s a civil matter needs to change!
If probable cause does not exist to take a $40,000 vehicle, a licensed wrecker driver, should be arrested, if he/she tows the vehicle, bottom
line! As it is now, wrecker drivers are breaking into tractor trailers (18 wheelers), got wiring the ignition, then driving them to the storage lot
and turnaround charging the owner or operator two towing fees, one for the tractor, one for the trailer.
With Federal Preemption in place, the only viable way to deal with these devastating and aggressive towing companies is to place the
licensee under arrest and be prosecuted in a Court of Law for violating the Texas Towing Law.
Until this happens, these problems we are seeing today will only get worse!
Towing Companies,
Wrecker Drivers and
Employees Rob Vehicle
Owners of Cash and
Personal Property from
Stored Vehicles
It disturbs me, that several
members of the Texas
Towing and Storage
Advisory Board, who
Regulations, a regulatory
agency, violate State Law
repeatedly. more..
Wrecker Drivers and
Employees Rob Vehicle
Owners of Cash and
Personal Property from
Stored Vehicles
It disturbs me, that several
members of the Texas
Towing and Storage
Advisory Board, who
Regulations, a regulatory
agency, violate State Law
repeatedly. more..
Sadistic Towing Scam Targets Wounded Fort Hood Soldiers Returning from Iraq
Talk about the worst type of welcome home troops, Action Towing of Killeen, Texas repeatedly without probable cause, towed 50+
soldier's vehicles from the parking lot of an apartment complex where they live.
As of today, Wednesday, February 18, 2009, the Office of the Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the DPS Texas
Rangers, Texas Department of License & Regulations, the Internal Revenue Service and the Texas State Comptrollers have all
opened investigations into the deceptive business practices of this towing company, their vehicle storage facility and the property
management company.
This towing company and vehicle storage facility are members of the Texas Towing and Storage Association.
Beside the towing sign being totally out of compliance and the Killeen Police Department allowing any vehicle to be towed from a
private parking facility with a sign as this posted, the citizens and visitors to Killeen, Texas are victims of widespread criminal illegal
towing and corruption, being their police department that refuses to uphold the law.
The Killeen Police Department commissioned peace officers refusal to uphold the criminal offenses surrounding this horrific
criminal illegal towing event is perfect example of Official Oppression.
Talk about the worst type of welcome home troops, Action Towing of Killeen, Texas repeatedly without probable cause, towed 50+
soldier's vehicles from the parking lot of an apartment complex where they live.
As of today, Wednesday, February 18, 2009, the Office of the Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the DPS Texas
Rangers, Texas Department of License & Regulations, the Internal Revenue Service and the Texas State Comptrollers have all
opened investigations into the deceptive business practices of this towing company, their vehicle storage facility and the property
management company.
This towing company and vehicle storage facility are members of the Texas Towing and Storage Association.
Beside the towing sign being totally out of compliance and the Killeen Police Department allowing any vehicle to be towed from a
private parking facility with a sign as this posted, the citizens and visitors to Killeen, Texas are victims of widespread criminal illegal
towing and corruption, being their police department that refuses to uphold the law.
The Killeen Police Department commissioned peace officers refusal to uphold the criminal offenses surrounding this horrific
criminal illegal towing event is perfect example of Official Oppression.
The verdict has been issued in illegal towing incident involving Milstead Automotive, Milstead Vehicle Storage and the Flying J Travel Center
in Houston, Texas. more...
| HOW TO STOP THE STEALING OF VEHICLES AND CRIMINALS THAT TARGET MOTORIST |
TDLR Licensed Wrecker Drivers Continue to Violate State Law
In an illegal towing incident in Wills Point, Texas, a towing company, Fuller’s Towing and Recovery Service more
In an illegal towing incident in Wills Point, Texas, a towing company, Fuller’s Towing and Recovery Service more
Central Towing Inc Wrecker Driver Pleads Guilty - April 9. 2009
In the latest illegal towing incident involving Central Towing Inc, their driver Jose T Flores,TDLR license number 8465 plead guilty this
morning in Austin Municipal Court for towing vehicles illegally without the consent of owner or operator from the parking lot of 900 West
23rd Street.
This continuing criminal conduct by Central Towing Inc preying on Texas consumers for financial gain is exposing their dishonesty.
The cause number to this latest case in Municipal Court is 6929709.
It was through the outreach that brought this case to Court, both through the investigative process of the Austin Police Department
Wrecker Enforcement Unit, the victim and Texas Towing Compliance.
In the latest illegal towing incident involving Central Towing Inc, their driver Jose T Flores,TDLR license number 8465 plead guilty this
morning in Austin Municipal Court for towing vehicles illegally without the consent of owner or operator from the parking lot of 900 West
23rd Street.
This continuing criminal conduct by Central Towing Inc preying on Texas consumers for financial gain is exposing their dishonesty.
The cause number to this latest case in Municipal Court is 6929709.
It was through the outreach that brought this case to Court, both through the investigative process of the Austin Police Department
Wrecker Enforcement Unit, the victim and Texas Towing Compliance.
Donald Creamer, President of Central Towing Inc of Austin, Texas was arrested this morning at 9:00am by Austin Police Officers at Mopac
and to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-5000 or 311. Creamer's wife in an interview stated, "I think it's being misinterpreted by
will see additional charges filed on behalf of the other 15 vehicle owners in the very near future, have operated under a dark cloud, which
finally was exposed for their criminal conduct.