Arkansas PTRAA Legislative News 2008
HOT NEWS UPDATES, AS THEY HAPPEN !!!
ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE WATCH 2008
SUCCESS in 2009 ... lies within reach ... of those who reach BEYOND themselves!!! ... Start NOW!!!
ENDURANCE ... each challenge is a unique reminder that we as TOWERS have the ABILITY to endure and survive!!!
TRUST ... the times when we as towers, hold on to others ... are often the best times we ... EXPERIENCE for ourselves!!!
Summary of current Legislative events from, Clifford Block, Junior Phillips and Don Jackson, YOUR " Legislative Watch DOGS " along with your Legislative Affairs Committee members. These special people are working for YOU and are helping bridge the many gaps between TOWERS and Politicians in the 86th General Assembly. Their efforts, and specifically your efforts as TOWERS, and as PTRAA members, by faxing, by your many phone calls, E-mails and personal phone calls to the Attorney General, Governor, Senators and Representatives have made a tremendous difference so far in this Legislative Session. THANK YOU!!! and please!!! congratulate yourself, for having taken the time to stand up and make a difference for ALL TOWERS and all your FUTURES. By doing something worthwhile for the TOWING INDUSTRY and really being part of YOUR TOWING ASSOCIATION, the PTRAA and all members would like to thank everyone, who has made a difference, this legislative session.
The Arkansas Senate on March 13, 2007 amended HB1472 to revise the law as agreed between representatives of the PTRAA and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel. During the committee meeting at which the amendment was presented, the Attorney General publicly thanked the TOWING INDUSTRY for meeting with him and enlightening him on the issues facing the ARKANSAS TOWING INDUSTRY. PTRAA Executive Legal Council, Cliff Block, told the Senate committee that towers are in agreement with the amendment, and publicly thanked the Attorney General for meeting and listening to the industry's concern. He also thanked Senator Wilkins, the chairman for the committee, for his assistance in making the amendment possible.
HB 1472 is amended to provide a very concise list of items to be released: (1) Personal or legal documents; (2) Medications; (3) Child Restraint Seating; (4) Wallets or Purses and the contents of such; (5) Prescription eyeglasses;; (6) Prosthetics; (7) Cell Phones; (8) Photographs; and (9) Books. NOTE!!! If the items in a vehicle are not on the list, a tow company is not required to release the items without payment. This should make it very easy for a towing company to understand what items " MUST BE RELEASED "!!! Obviously the PTRAA encourages towers to always use sensible discretion on other items.
The Attorney General advised the committee that while some on his staff had requested other items to be held, such as shotguns, fishing rods, clothing, etc., he rejected those proposals. The Attorney General also, upon his own initiative, added a provision to clarify existing law that tow companies may also hold all trailers and the contents of those trailers.
The PTRAA sincerely appreciates the Attorney General in listening to our INDUSTRY and in supporting reasonable alternatives. It was a hard-fought battle in stopping HB 1472 prior to this amendment, but the members stood up to the battle and was successful with a UNITED MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN. Congratulations to the UNITED PTRAA MEMBERSHIP!!! Be sure to thank your SENATORS and REPRESENTATIVES for standing FIRM in support of your interest, and let them know you NOW!!! SUPPORT HB 1472 as AMENDED.
PTRAA President, Executive Staff, all FOUR AREA Vice Presidents, along with Senator Henry " HANK " Wilkins of Pine bluff, met in the Attorney Generals conference room at 1 PM, March 8th, 2007 with ATTORNEY GENERAL Dustin McDaniel and his staff. The meeting was held, to discuss HB 1472, SB 805 and what could be worked out to join all parties together with a common goal, and conclude with a final agreement to prevent further separation on the issue of Possessory liens of a Towing and Storage Firm, that everyone could support and in doing so, feel more comfortable with. At the same time, everyone could also be more supportive of CITIZEN RIGHTS and the rights of ARKANSAS TOWERS to get paid for the TOWING SERVICES they provide to the public. This was a WIN!!! WIN!!! meeting for all parties involved, including the ATTORNEY GENERAL, the PTRAA, ALL ARKANSAS CITIZENS, and ALL ARKANSAS TOWERS.
After final revisions are completed and approved by PTRAA LEGAL COUNCIL, Cliff Block with his personal OK!!! The PTRAA and all TOWERS will SUPPORT HB 1472 for the Attorney General and State Representative Davenport. As a final note to everyone, the ATTORNEY GENERALS STAFF has asked me to " CALL OFF THE DOGS " to please STOP sending all your faxes and E-MAILS... and stop all the phone CALLS!!! trust them, when they say, " they got your message ", and they want to thank everyone involved with this issue... but " please STOP!!! NOW!!! " The Attorney General and his Staff have many other important issues they need to finish and work on at this time.
We concur and ask everyone, to please do as requested by the ATTORNEY GENERALS STAFF. We would however like to sincerely, thank everyone, who did stand up for what they believed in, and did defend your TOWING RIGHTS and the RIGHTS OF ALL TOWERS to be paid for the SERVICES YOU PROVIDE!!!
The PTRAA would like to also thank Arkansas Democrat reporter, Stacy Hudson for a fair report and media interpretation of issues facing all TOWERS statewide.
Many newspapers are asking questions, and looking for stories. HB 1472 has become of interest because of the PTRAA and STATE TOWERS desire to KILL this BILL. In all fairness to EVERYONE!!! Including the Attorney Generals Office and Towers Statewide, PLEASE be careful of your remarks about this issue. Only speak of what you personally want to say about this issue, and do not harm your ability to compromise and work with anyone on other issues concerning TOWING. Do not speak about anything negative or provide careless chatter to anyone. We have ALWAYS wanted dialog and the ability to defend our TOWING INDUSTRY with everyone, especially the Attorney General, who in the past, we have always enjoyed working with and seeking advice on key issues concerning TOWING IN ARKANSAS, but we have never been sure why??? the Senior Assistant Attorney General has wanted to drag TOWERS through the mud about an existing law that protected TOWERS and was already being amended by TOWERS to let all citizens know that we were not keeping ALL personal items, and have always given up certain personal items without question. Most Towers were already giving back many items as an act of professional courtesy. Our amendment will clearly define items that must be returned and still allow towers the ability to collect Towing fees on abandoned vehicles and wrecked, worthless junk vehicles. We will do our best to explain our concerns about this issue with our NEW STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, Dustin McDaniel, and hopefully gain his support and friendship on other Towing Industry issues. We want to help him serve all state citizens, while providing help to preserve our vital and necessary STATE TOWING INDUSTRY!!!
SB - 967 was presented to the Senate Transportation Committee by Senator Altes, for the PTRAA, Wednesday afternoon and passed the committee and was sent on to the House.
SCHEDULED WEDNESDAY MARCH 7 ( MORNING )
SB - 1001 ( FOR )
SCHEDULED WEDNESDAY MARCH 7 ( AFTERNOON )
HB -1472 ( 100% AGAINST ) 2 PM
SB - 865 ( FOR )
SB - 967 ( FOR )
SB - 969 ( FOR )
SCHEDULED THURSDAY MARCH 8 ( MORNING )
SB - 805 ( FOR ) 10 AM
HB - 2284 ( FOR )
HB - 2430 ( FOR )
HB - 2469 ( FOR )
HB - 2622 ( FOR )
AT THE REQUEST Of ARKANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, DUSTIN McDaniel, PTRAA OFFICER'S AND EXECUTIVES, WILL MEET IN HIS OFFICE ON THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2007 AT 1 PM, TO DISCUSS TOWING ISSUES. We will keep you advised on what happens.
On Monday March 5th, 2007 Towers from all over Arkansas were shoulder to shoulder outside room 309, of the Senate Transportation Committee at the STATE CAPITAL. Just Before the Committee convened for business, State Senator Terry Smith, of Hot Springs basically told all TOWERS that he would make TOWERS be there every day to oppose his amended HB1472 which he personally amended for Attorney General Dustin McDaniel. He believes that TOWERS should go along with his amendment and consider ourselves " LUCKY " that Senior Assistant Attorney General JIM De PRIEST of Little Rock and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel would even work with TOWERS in the first place. Jim De PRIEST was quoted in a past Arkansas Democrat article as saying that TOWERS had a law giving them the right to hold contents, " BUT IT WAS A STUPID LAW " without any merit! or something to that order. Found the article... QUOTE!!! from the ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT ... Jim De Priest, senior assistant attorney general, said a consumer with personal items in his car - even something as important as eyeglasses, say - is at the mercy of a tow-truck operator, who has no legal obligation to give him access, De Priest said. " THAT REALLY CHAPS MY HIDE, " he added. his exact statement as printed!!! The way it stands right now!!! The Attorney General has moved all he is going to move and the ATTORNEY GENERAL refuses to meet personally with Cliff Block, our PTRAA LEGAL COUNCIL to work out any language that TOWERS can support as an amendment. At this point, SENATOR BOBBY L. GLOVER ( D ) of Carlisle, will now defend TOWERS STATEWIDE and put forth our amendment to HB1472 that is meant to help TOWERS continue to collect payment for TOW BILLS using certain contents held until the TOW BILL IS PAID. If you have comments about what is going on with this bill, just REMEMBER that THIS BILL WAS BROUGHT ABOUT by THE DIRECT PERSONAL AGENDA OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, DUSTIN McDaniel. Call him personally and let him know how you feel about this ISSUE, AND HB 1472... and HIS proposed amendment AGAINST TOWERS. This is a FREE COUNTRY!!! and YOU SHOULD LET the ATTORNEY GENERAL KNOW THAT WHEN ELECTION TIME COMES UP AGAIN!!!...THAT TOWERS WILL REMEMBER HB1472 and THE ATTORNEY GENERALS PERSONAL AGENDA!!! TOWERS HAVE A VOICE!!! AND LOTS OF VOTES!!! LET HIM KNOW THAT WE WON"T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE...BECAUSE OF WHO WE VOTED FOR!!! LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU AS A TOWER VOTE!!! AND YOUR VOTE WILL COUNT NEXT ELECTION!!! LET HIM KNOW THAT HE IS AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS KILLER AND AN ARKANSAS INDUSTRY KILLER... ASK HIM WHY!!! HE DOES NOT SUPPORT YOUR RIGHT TO MAKE SURE YOUR PAID!!!, FOR THE SERVICES YOU PERFORM FOR ALL STATE CITIZENS, WITHOUT ONE TAX PAYER DOLLAR BEING SPENT FOR YOUR INDUSTRY OR TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS DOORS OPEN. ASK HIM, IF THE STATE SHOULD PAY FOR ALL YOUR ABANDONED TOWS AND NO PAYMENT TOWS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT..... DEMANDING YOU TOW THEM OR GET OFF!!! ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT TOWING LIST!!! THIS IS A QUOTE AND THE BELIEF OF!!! SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, JIM DePRIEST... HE BELIEVES THAT TOWERS SHOULD GET OFF TOW LIST AND NOT TOW ANYONE, UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON GETTING PAID BY THOSE HELPLESS, MISUNDERSTOOD CITIZENS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY YOU FOR THE SERVICES THAT YOU MUST PREFORM FOR THE STATE, COUNTY OR CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT'S OK!!! HOWEVER FOR YOU TO PAY YOUR TAXES THAT GIVES HIM, HIS CUSHION SOFT JOB, AT TAX PAYERS EXPENSE... OF WHO >>>>YOU ARE ONE!!! SO WHY IS HE NOT DEFENDING.... YOUR RIGHTS TO GET PAID!!! " QUOTE!!! DON'T TOWERS GET PAID BY SELLING THOSE ABANDONED VEHICLES AND WRECKED CARS!!! ISN'T THAT ENOUGH??? SO HIS IDEA IS TO AMEND THE LAW WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL AND FORCE YOU TO SUBMIT TO HIS WAY OF THOUGHT!!! NOT LAW!!! BECAUSE REMEMBER, " HE BELIEVES THAT THE LAW WE NOW HAVE IS A STUPID LAW!!! HE ALSO SAYS HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT GOVERNOR, MIKE BEEBE STANDS WITH TOWERS!!! HE ASKED THE PTRAA, TO HAVE GOVERNOR, MIKE BEEBE, " CALL HIM PERSONALLY " IT'S YOU FUTURE!!! STAND UP AND FIGHT AGAINST THOSE WHO WANT TO DESTROY YOUR BUSINESS!!! HELP US FIGHT!!! Call YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TODAY!!! THE PTRAA AND THE ARKANSAS TOWING INDUSTRY NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP!!!
On Monday February 26th 2007 the PTRAA was ready to KILL HB 1472 with your Support, phone calls, e-mails, faxes and personal conversations with your STATE SENATORS, and SENATORS on the SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. The Attorney General Dustin Mc Daniel has his personal agenda that he is demanding get passed. HB 1472, is one of HIS in your face BILLS that he wants to show everyone he can and has the support or finesse to get anything passed, without the support of the Arkansas Towing Industry, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL continues HIS denial of TOWERS CONCERNS and refuses to meet with PTRAA Legal Council Cliff Block to work on an AMENDMENT that is acceptable to the TOWING INDUSTRY. On Tuesday February 27th, 2007 the SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE DID NOT CONSIDER HB 1472 and The Attorney General, Dustin Mc Daniel, personally tried to get the bill in before the committee had adjourned as " HIS PERSONAL AGENDA "... Tuesday afternoon the ATTORNEY GENERAL using his legal presence was able to get HB1472 amended by STATE SENATOR TERRY SMITH of HOT SPRINGS with the ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OWN AMENDMENT. This will now put HB1472 back before the SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE for a VOTE. In no uncertain terms the ATTORNEY GENERAL is trying to FORCE THIS BILL DOWN TOWERS THROATS. HB 1472 NOW!!! WILL NOW go back to the SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE for a VOTE and discussion and the ATTORNEY GENERAL IS hoping the COMMITTEE WILL PASS THE BILL WITH HIS PERSONAL AMENDMENT, since the HOUSE and SENATE must agree on the wording of BILLS before them, and it should be the same language with or without amendments. The PTRAA is asking ALL ARKANSAS TOWERS TO GET BACK ON THE PHONES, and send more E-MAILS,and MORE FAXES to all State Representatives, ALL STATE SENATORS and ask them to vote AGAINST HB 1472 with the current, ATTORNEY GENERALS AMENDMENT. THIS BILL IS A TOWING INDUSTRY KILLER, AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE CONCERNS OF THE ARKANSAS TOWING INDUSTRY or the Professional Towing and Recovery Association of Arkansas and its members. WE ARE BEING STEPPED UPON, by the ATTORNEY GENERAL who believes, HE should WIN!!!, because HE HAS HIS PERSONAL AGENDA, TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, by INFORMING LAW MAKERS AND ARKANSAS TOWERS THAT HE HOLDS A POWERFUL OFFICE IN ARKANSAS STATE GOVERNMENT. Towers should be very careful NOW!! and never let your guards down FOR ANY REASON, especially NOW!!! Because the ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS DRAWN HIS LINE IN THE SAND, TO MAKE SURE ALL TOWERS KNOW THAT HE WANTS TO WIN!!! and DEFEAT THEIR WILL TO CONTINUE THIS FIGHT!!! IT'S up to ALL TOWERS TO STAND AND FIGHT FOR THEIR FUTURES!!! DON'T GIVE UP NOW!!! Watch every day and be at the State Capital personally, if need be, TO FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN!!! Be fearful of anyone who wants to harm your Industry or your profession. We will keep you posted!!! It NOW!!! looks like the bill will get back to the SENATE committee on Monday March 5th in room #309 at 11 AM. WE NEED EVERYONE'S SUPPORT AND HELP!!! KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON!!!, and the PTRAA WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED!!! Get on your phones NOW!!!! and CALL ALL STATE SENATORS WITH YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT HB 1472. THIS BILL IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO TOWERS or the Arkansas Towing Industry. " TOWERS want dialog and understanding from the ATTORNEY GENERAL, concerning ISSUES affecting your ARKANSAS TOWING INDUSTRY that could harm or DESTROY TOWERS JOBS and BUSINESSES. When you talk to HIM!!!, " EXPLAIN YOUR CONCERNS " and ask him what HE HAS AGAINST HIS SUPPORTERS?
The PTRAA Legislative Affairs Committee met in late January and early February 2007 to iron out the details and provide information to committee members that the PTRAA could go forward with, in the 86th General Assembly. Greg Cochran, Legislative Affairs Director for West Arkansas and Legislative Committee Moderator along with PTRAA Legal Council Cliff Block and other Committee members have put together the details of bills that the PTRAA could introduce in support of the Arkansas Towing Industry, for the 2007 session.
The Committee is currently talking with Legislators and Representatives who will introduce the bills for the PTRAA and present legislation into committees for getting the bills passed.
On Monday February 12th, 2007 State Representative, James ' MONTY ' Davenport, of Yell ville, AR, Hm Ph, 870-449-6745 introduced and filed HB 1472 for the State Attorney General, Dustin McDaniel's office. This was primarily done because one of the assistants for the Attorney Generals office has wanted to introduce this legislation for some time. The New Attorney General, Dustin McDaniel for some reason, was not aware that TOWERS state wide voted for him and supported him, this past election. This is how easy it is for anyone to slip below radar and stab TOWERS in the neck, when we supported the very office that is now introducing this legislation against ALL ARKANSAS TOWERS.
HB 1472 if passed, will kill the current law that now protects TOWER RIGHTS and helps TOWERS collect towing fees and storage fees from vehicle owners and insurance companies who determine that the vehicle is not worth picking up. Most want to just abandon these vehicles without paying the fees for the services TOWERS are required by law to provide for the public and all LAW ENFORCEMENT. This is an outrage to TOWERS and everyone needs to join with the PTRAA by calling your State Representatives, State Senators, State Legislators and U.S. Senators and demand that someone stand up for all TOWERS and the Towing Industry in Arkansas, before they put everyone out of business.
Everyone should get on the phones now!!! and call every TOWER in ARKANSAS and make sure they are aware what HB 1472 will do to them personally, their families and their future in the Arkansas towing industry. Make everyone aware it is up to them to call their State Legislators and Senators NOW!!! Don't wait, because tomorrow, may be to late.