Towing Issues: I am a woman tower., few hurdles, hula hoops

Question
My problem is a bit different.  I am a woman tow company owner.  Its given me just a few hurdles.  One being the Sheriff's Dept. in my county in Ohio.  I was thrown off the rotation without any notice for taking cars into another county where I also have an impound lot.  But the 2 cars it was over had nothing to do with the Sheriff's Dept. they didn't make the calls.  One was a State Patrol wreck a fatality.  It was fine with the state patrol.  I have more room for weighing the vehicle etc. and did not charge any more for the tow.  The other a private property call.  After about 9 or 10 mos. oodles of calls and oodles of hula hoops I was put back on the list.  And was taken back off 19 days later over the first call they'd given me.  It was impounded for D.U.I and the driver went to jail.  He retrieved the car 19 days later.  I charged him $85.00 for the tow which was from the neighboring town about 5 miles away on a weekend night.  And $15.00 a day storage and of course uncle sam gets his.  I called in and found out I was off the list after wondering why i wasn't receiveing calls.  So the next day I spoke with the Sheriff who accused me of taking a car to the other county and I said no I did not.  Then he said he wasn't there for me to rob people and that I had robbed this person.  I asked who was the name and what car because I only had 2 cars from them.  He said he wasn't told the name.  But i was taken off the list the same day the guy got out his car.  And he had whined that they hit him hard with the fines and could we give him a break.  I explained I feel our prices are very competitive and probably cheaper than most in my area.  We towers go through alot and then to not have the Sheriff's dept back us up or at least call and say hey we need to talk.  I've had a complaint and let us explain our side.  And most people who get their cars impounded just do not want to pay any amount.  They call all hours about their cars and most can't understand that the impound lots are not open at 2:00 am on sunday and so on.  I love my job.  But the police calls that are d.u.i and d.u.s etc. can be horrible.  Our equipment costs are high, insurance, and fuel.  And we're expected to haul for nothing.  If I'm robbing I don't understand why I'm just getting by.  Believe me the robbers are the thieves that went into our salvage yard and robbed us blind.  Our converters, copper, rims, radiators.  All our hard work.  I consider myself to be a decent, honest hardworking woman.
I work right along side my man every day.  I ride in the truck, I run the bed when needed, if he works 15hrs. then I work 17 lol.  I do the paperwork when we get in and of course fix supper no matter how late it may be.  DO my own laundry and housekeeping.  I can't afford to pay to have it done.  Opinions more than welcome.

Answer
Well, welcome to the world of POLITICS, GOOD OLDE BOY NETWORK and TOWING...

And we know this does not mix at all... Its just about the same everywhere, someone complains about the bills and its usually to the police department. And since we are a "private business" some people in power do think its right to subject us to their whims and wishes for prices, discounts or free services. After all we (towers) do not have prices set by state law, courts, and such like the police departments do for fines. I wonder if the complaining person did try to get the D.U.I fines reduced as "the police were ripping him off"

What I see about your tow rates is a very low rate, but then cost of doing business is different everywhere (FYI we are 150 hook up, 2.50 per mile and 25.00 a day for storage here in Alabama and we are one of the lower priced companies in the area)

Now as to what to do, its hard to deal with this kind of issue without contracts, or written agreements, but it can be done. Towing has a wonderful attorney Mike McGovern who is based out of Tennessee who grew up in the towing business. He has done a lot of good work for tow companies when dealing with "rotation abuse" or "favoritism"

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The McGovern Law Firm
P.O. Box 5536

Knoxville, TN 37928
Phone: 865-686-4891
Fax: 865-687-1732


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Now as to some other issues, I know that Ohio P.U.C.O regulates towing to some extent and since you mention you have yards in 2 different counties then you should fall under their rules in regards to licensing, insurance and while I believe they do not regulate rates, I think they ask for rates and you are also able to search their system for other company tow rates. Now if you can get your competitors tow rates for the area doing the same kind of calls, you might have a leg to stand on with pricing.

But then again it might show that your rates are higher. Double edged sword there.

Now as to other things, I know Ohio has a great towing association

http://www.trao.org

and as such they can be of help as they would know more about the specific laws which you would be falling under. Plus they most likely have seen, heard and helped others who dealt with this kind of issue.

Plus there are many towing forums available online where other towers share information, help with problems and just plain hang out. Some of them are listed below.

www.tow411.net

www.towtalk.net

www.ppphdbilling.yuku.net


But as to what to suggest to you, well hang on and try to resolve it peacefully, and hope for the best. At times law enforcement towing is profitable and at times its just a royal PIA.


Good luck and if you need to ask more questions feel free to or just check around the forums listed and see what kind of information you can find.