OKLAHOMA WRECKER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
300 SW 29TH
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73109-6793
(405) 319-1724
JANUARY 2004
DEAR FELLOW MEMBERS & WRECKER OWNERS:
I trust everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you and yours are all well. You should have received your Oklahoma DPS License Renewal form by this time. If you haven’t received one, you need to contact the DPS immediately to get your form. The decals are required to be installed by January 1st. This newsletter will go to all wrecker owners as listed on the latest DPS license list. If you don’t get this newsletter, please contact me as soon as possible. (That’s a joke.) Some of this information will be “old hat” to members. I hope they will bear with me and perhaps contact a non-member in their area and ask them to join to help us in our fight. There may be a special mailing to members as soon as the language of our bill is confirmed.
INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The members of the OWOA have had 2 interim study committee meetings. We had so many members show up to tell of our plight that we stirred a lot of interest. While the Capitol is quiet during the fall and winter, there is still a lot of interest. All of the employees and staff were wondering why there were so many wreckers in the parking lot when we had meetings. We made quite an impression. Perhaps we need to have a meeting of wreckers some morning during the session to see what happens. We should think about this.
We explained to the senators at the meeting our problems and why we need help in collecting our fees that are allowed by law. There were also some insurance company lobbyists at the second meeting and they didn’t have a lot to say when we explained our problems about helping law enforcement and not getting paid.
I had mentioned before how Senator Wilkerson had given me a hard time last year in the Senate Committee meeting when we were first mentioning a suspension of driver’s license for failure to pay a non-consent tow bill. Senator Wilkerson attended the second meeting and after hearing the amount of tows we don’t get paid for has started to consider that this might be an option as long as “innocent” citizens aren’t penalized. His greatest concern was the person that sold a vehicle and doesn’t know who it was sold to. Senator Wilkerson was very friendly and agreed to help us in our endeavors. We will still need to work hard to explain these numbers to every legislator. He cautioned that we had an uphill battle and we would need to contact every legislator and make sure they understood how many times we don’t get paid. Some wrecker owner from his district probably took the time to explain the problem and made sure he understood what happens to us. I want to take my hat off to this wrecker owner and salute him/her. This is how it’s done. The legislators aren’t “evil” and the wrecker owners aren’t “evil”, we just need to stop and listen to each other and make sure they understand our problems.
I was very impressed that Senator Wilkerson had a change of heart. I have more respect for Senator Wilkerson for being able to put his personal feelings aside and listen to data and information and understand our problems. He was extremely helpful and gave good advice as to how we can make our goals happen. Gene Fitzpatrick was also present and told the Senators he would be glad to help write legislation that will help us get paid when we perform non-consent tows. I think the DPS also learned how many tows are for “naught” and were surprised at the number of tows that go unpaid. We are making headway.
We also explained the problems of back tags and taxes and especially “stop flags” and how they hurt the value of our auctioned vehicles. We explained how we must have special consideration for title 42s since we are helping law enforcement. The legislators seemed very eager to help resolve this problem. We also explained how the labor fees for extra labor in State Law aren’t sufficient to allow us to hire extra help to clear roadways. We explained how this causes an increase in the time to clear the roadway and tie up traffic. We need an increase in these fees to be able to do our job. Gene Fitzpatrick supports this increase. We also showed data about fuel surcharges and how every industry that uses fuel is allowed a fuel surcharge to help level the pain of fuel price spikes. This includes any trucking company, UPS, Fed Ex, all airlines and so on. We hopefully will be able to get some relief in these areas also.
We started by giving the Senators 5 options. We examined the “government subsidy” idea (works like a waste tire fee) and Senator Wilkerson explained what has happened to the waste tire fee in Oklahoma and that this probably isn’t a good idea for us. The insurance industry explained how there isn’t a state in the union that has a “liability insurance pay law” for non-consent tows (and that seems like the most reasonable idea to me). They didn’t express any opposition to the Illinois law (driver’s license suspension). We seem to be left with 3 options. They are 1) Florida law (license tags), 2) Illinois law (revoke drivers licenses), 3) across the board rate increase (but if you don’t get paid, how does this help?). We will discuss these items with the legislators and see which one they feel has the best chance of passing in the coming legislative session.
No matter which option we end up with, come this spring we must be united and work hard to make sure our bill passes. Even if you don’t agree that it’s the best option, we must show a united front and work towards its passage. If you are a member and have an opinion, let it be known now. When the law is drafted this will be our only goal and it will be way too late to change. Kind of like “speak now or forever hold your peace”.
I need to make sure I have everyone’s email and fax numbers. It is the most reliable and quick method to spread the word quickly and efficiently. Please, please, please, if you didn’t receive an email from me in the last 2 months, I don’t have your correct email address!!!!! Send it to me now!!!!!! Several have and I appreciate your help. You can send email through the OWOA web site. Just log on to the Internet at www.okwoa.org. Click on the “Send a Message to your President” link and it will open a page to email a message to me. I will be able to get your email from sending me a message on this link. If you only have a fax, please fax a message to 405 631-3460 with your fax number listed and I can load it in the computer. If there are any special procedures, please write that down also (such as, “call first”, call at night, or whatever). I don’t need any notes if you have a dedicated fax line. If you know your Senator and / or Representative’s name, give that to me also. It will become extremely important later in the Legislative Session. Even if you aren’t a member but would like to call your legislator to ask for his support, please send me this information.
Towing & Recovery School
Dewey is already planning the next T&R Schools in Oklahoma. They are set for May 4th thru May 8th. May 4th & 5th will be light-duty. May 7th & May 8th will be heavy-duty. (The evening of May 6th will be the brainstorming session, which is open to everyone.) These are separate classes with separate fees. You may attend both classes if you would like. Tom Luciano will be the instructor again. Light Duty class will be $200.00 for pre-registered members ($300 for pre-registered non-members) and heavy duty will be $250 for pre-registered members ($350 for pre-registered non-members). Fees will be $50.00 higher at the door. We are in the early stages but if you would like to attend or send some employees, please let us know you support the idea of training. Again, it will be first come, first serve basis except that members will have a preference over non-members. The last school was a great success and may have been one of the best in the nation. There will be a $100.00 non-refundable deposit required to secure your spot and we will still offer a full refund (with a written request at the end of class) of fees if you attend all the class and still don’t think you learned anything (excluding a family/medical emergency). Our purpose is not to cause problems, but to make sure those attending do learn and are able to perform difficult recoveries with confidence and safety. There is an application in this newsletter. There is also a membership application. Check the mail label for the date of expiration to see if you are a current member. If the label doesn’t show a date after 2/01/2004 then your membership has expired. This is your last newsletter during the legislative session.
When Dewey was at the TRAA Conference in Pennsylvania he let several wrecker operators from Texas know that we were planning another school. Almost every attendee from the last school wants to send more operators for the next class. Let us know if you want to be included in the school. This school will be held before the end of the legislative session and I was hoping we could get some press, or maybe have some legislators drop by to see what it is we do. Hopefully we can work this out.
BODYSHOPS/”STEERING”/STATE LAW
If you are also a body shop owner or if you have a good customer that is a body shop owner then please read this and pass it on to the body shop owner. Actually this applies to any service that deals with insurance companies such as glass shops and trim shops also. There are several shop owners that are in the process of changing state law to stop the insurance practice of “steering”. If you have been a victim of this illegal practice or if you have a customer/friend that has, then please fax the shop’s name, phone, fax, & email address to the OWOA (fax 405 631-3460 – email www.okwoa.org = “email the president”). We will forward this information to the proper people (Oklahoma Auto Repairers Network). This practice is also detrimental to wrecker owners. For further information call 405 232-7426 for information.
We were invited to attend a meeting at the Used Motor Vehicle Commission offices so the Used Dealers could get our input about title 42s. It seems that many debtors have caught on to the fact that a lien can be erased by a title 42. What is happening is that a relative or friend of a debtor will fake a title 42 and force the used dealer/lienholder to either pay off the amount of the title 42 or abandon the vehicle. The kicker is that repairs that are claimed to have been made aren’t being made and a fraud is being committed on the dealer/lienholder. There is very little recourse that a used dealer can use to stop this practice. The bad thing is, if it isn’t stopped, it could affect our title 42s.
The used dealers understand that we must have this practice and they have no arguments with wrecker owners. They do appreciate the DPS postcards of notification and wish they could get a postcard on every vehicle. But, as we pointed out, that isn’t our fault and the cars we tow are getting them notified if they have filed their lien in a timely fashion (which doesn’t happen in my neighborhood). The dealers had started suggesting many, many changes but I believe they have decided to take our suggestion and require businesses only may file a title 42. When describing their “war stories” their main problem was individuals committing fraud. They may also limit the number of days of storage (excluding wreckers) or require a notification process which wrecker owners will be exempted. I want to point out that the dealers understand that we will not be able to accept any bill that limits storage for any licensed wrecker operator. They understand that and don’t have a problem with it. I have asked for a specific exemption stating Class AA wreckers are excluded (non-consent tows). We will need to keep an eye on the wording and make sure the changes suggested don’t interfere with our title 42 processes. We did point out that we don’t want any additional paperwork to be required for AA wrecker owners. At the meeting everyone seemed happy with our suggestions. They wanted more restrictions but they didn’t want a battle on their hands either, which is our goal also.
NEXT MEETING – JANUARY 13TH, 2004
Our next meeting will be in Ardmore Oklahoma. The meeting will be January 13th (second Tuesday of the month). We are setting the meeting up at Budro’s Rib Joint. We should have the language of our bill ready and hopefully will have a bill number so we can start gaining support and explaining why we need some help in collecting our fees. We will cover the legislative wording and make sure we have all of our bases covered.
Again, we will be in the legislative session from March until May. It may be necessary to be in OKC more than once during that time period. I don’t want to upset anyone, but we need to make sure we have constant contact with our legislators and that they can contact us if we encounter difficulties about our bills and our future. We must be successful in the legislature to be sure we have a future. Be sure to check the mail label for the date of expiration to see if you are a current member. If the label doesn’t show a date of 2/01/2004 or later then your membership has expired. This is your last newsletter during the legislative session.
NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
BUDRO’S RIB JOINT
1606 McLish St. – Ardmore, OK 73401
Meal 7:00 PM = Meeting 8:00 PM
OWOA PRESENTS
Tom Luciano Towing and Recovery Schools
1. Light Duty – May 4th & 5th, 2004 ($200/Member)
2. Heavy-Duty Recovery May 7th& 8th, 2004 ($250/Member)
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM – For both classes – Separate Schools
“Brainstorming” Session Open to All – Thursday, May 6th = 7:00PM
Study Guide included – Certificate of Completion for Courses
PLUS: HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS
Pre-Register by April 12th = $100.00 non refundable deposit needed
Balance due first day of Class – Payable to OWOA
OWOA MEMBER (with paid deposit) =Light= $200/head // Heavy $250/head
Membership in ANY State Association will be allowed. Proof of membership must be received with application
Additional participants from same member company= $150.00/Hd
($100 Deposit needed for Additional Employees - $50.00 due at the Door)
Members Registering at the Door =Light = $250//Heavy= $300.00
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Pre-Registered ($100.00 paid deposit) Non-Member = Light $300/Heavy $350
Mail registration fees to: OWOA, 300 SW 29th, OKC, OK 73109
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SCHOOL REGISTRATION (Please Print)
Company Name* ___________________________________ Phone_____________________________ *For Multiple Student Discount the Company Name must be the same for each Student for accounting purposes.
Address________________________________________City _________________ST____Zip_______
Light Duty Student Name(s)(Please Print) -_______________________________________________ $100 Deposit needed for each student pre-registering for classes.
Heavy Duty Student Name(s) ___________________________________________________________
Light #____/ Heavy #____Amount Included $_________ / Member= Yes No / Balance Due $________
OWOA use only…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Deposit included _______ Full Fees paid ______ Ck # _________ Date _____ Amt$__________ |
Money back guarantee – If not satisfied, fees will be refunded. No questions asked.
Requests for refunds must be made in writing by the end of class.
Oklahoma City Police and Fire Training Center
(Due West of Oklahoma State Fairgrounds)
OKLAHOMA WRECKER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Please make checks payable to” “O.W.O.A”
300 SW 29TH - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73109-6793
(405) 319-1724 – FAX (405) 631-3460
Company Name _________________________________ DPS # __________ G AA
Owner/Contact Name _____________________________Position__________________
Adress__________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________ State ________ Zip _______________
Bus Phon ____________________ Fax ___________________ Other ______________
Email Address _________________________________________________________
Number of Wreckers __________ X $20 (Max 4) + $140.00 = $_________(Maximum $220.00)
ASSOCIATE MEMBER DUES ARE $200 PER YEAR – 12 MONTH PERIOD.
Amount of 1st payment $____________ Balance Due $___________ in ________payments.
Dues are for a 12 consecutive month period. Dues must be paid in full in 12 months.