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Iowa tow truck drivers worry proposed legislation could put them in danger

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AdvertisementIowa tow truck drivers worry proposed legislation could put them in dangerHide TranscriptShow TranscriptCHRIS: IOWA’S TOWING INDUSTRY WORRIES THIS BILL TAKES AWAY EMERGENCY VEHICLE STATUS FROM THEIR TRUCKS, CREATING POTENTIAL HAZARDS FOR DRIVERS. &gt;&gt; EVERY TIME WE OPEN THE DOOR OF OUR TRUCK ON THE ROADWAY, WE’RE PUTTING OUR LIVES ON THE LINE. CHRIS: AND ANDY DEBOARD, PRESIDENT OF LONGTIME DES MOINES TOW COMPANY PERRY’S SERVICE, SAYS THE RED AND BLUE LIGHTS ON TOP OF THE COMPANY’S TRUCKS, HELP KEEP ITS DRIVERS SAFE. &gt;&gt; THE RED AND BLUE LIGHTS ARE VISIBLE. AND BECAUSE THEY’RE ON EVERY EMERGENCY VEHICLE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST UNIVERSALLY, THEY DEMAND THE RESPECT. THEY DEMAND THE ATTENTION OF THE DRIVERS. CHRIS: BUT LEGISLATION IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR COMMERCIALLY-OWNED TOW TRUCKS TO USE RED AND BLUE LIGHTS. THE BILLS DON’T APPEAR TO OFFICIALLY LIFT TOW TRUCKS’ CLASSIFICATION AS EMERGENCY VEHICLES, BUT DEBOARD FEELS THAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT. SAYING HE WORRIES MOTORISTS WILL PAY A LOT LESS ATTENTION IF TOW TRUCKS HAVE AMBER LIGHTS, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE NON-EMERGENCY VEHICLES. MAKING CRASH SCENES LIKE THIS MONTH’S PILEUP ON I-80, EVEN MORE PERILOUS. &gt;&gt; THEY JUST DON’T DEMAND THE RESPECT OF THE MOTORING PUBLIC, LIKE THEY HAVE IN THE PAST. I FEEL OUR DRIVERS AND TOW TRUCK DRIVERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FIRST , RESPONDERS. OFTENTIMES, WE’RE THERE BEFORE THE OTHER THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FIRE DEPARTMENTS. ,CHRIS: ANYONE IN VIOLATION WOULD FACE A $45 FINE UNDER THE BILLS. A HOUSE SUBCOMMITEE WILL MEET TUESDAY TO DISCUSS ITS VERSION OF THE BILL. WHILE THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE PASSED ITS VERSION, LAST THUAdvertisementIowa tow truck drivers worry proposed legislation could put them in dangerTowing companies are coming out against proposed Iowa legislation that would prohibit tow trucks from being outfitted with red and blue lights, like other emergency vehicles.Bills prohibiting commercial tow trucks from using red and blue emergency lights, as well as sirens, have been making their way through the House and Senate.Iowa Professional Fire Fighters, the Iowa State Police Association and the Iowa Emergency Management Association are among the groups registered in favor of at least one version of legislation, including Senate File 71, the previous iteration of the legislation; Crow's Auto Service and the Iowa Motor Truck Association are among the groups registered against at least one of the bills.Andy DeBoard, the president of longtime Des Moines towing company Perry's Service, said he and leaders of other towing companies worry that removing red and blue lights adds more danger to an already perilous job."Every time we open the door of our truck on the roadway, we're putting our lives on the line," DeBoard said. "The red and blue lights are visible and because they're on every emergency vehicle, you know, almost universally, they demand the respect; they demand the attention of the drivers."DeBoard said he doesn't think drivers would pay attention to amber lights, for instance, that are widely used on non-emergency vehicles."They just don't demand the respect of the motoring public, like they have in the past," he said.While the bill does not appear to remove tow trucks' classification as emergency vehicles, DeBoard feels the legislation is tantamount to doing so. "I feel our drivers and tow truck drivers across the country are should be considered first responders," he said. "Oftentimes, we're there before the law enforcement agencies, fire departments, or we're left there to clean up afterwards if they have to rush off to another accident scene. A lot of times, we are the only first responder there."On Monday afternoon, KCCI left messages for floor managers of both houses' versions of the legislation, as well as with some of the groups in favor of the legislation, but has gotten no response as of Monday evening.The Senate transportation committee passed its version of the bill last Thursday; a House subcommittee will meet Tuesday to discuss its version.Towing companies are coming out against proposed Iowa legislation that would prohibit tow trucks from being outfitted with red and blue lights, like other emergency vehicles.Bills prohibiting commercial tow trucks from using red and blue emergency lights, as well as sirens, have been making their way through the and .AdvertisementIowa Professional Fire Fighters, the Iowa State Police Association and the Iowa Emergency Management Association are among the groups registered in favor of at least one version of legislation, including , the previous iteration of the legislation; Crow's Auto Service and the Iowa Motor Truck Association are among the groups registered against at least one of the bills.Andy DeBoard, the president of longtime Des Moines towing company Perry's Service, said he and leaders of other towing companies worry that removing red and blue lights adds more danger to an already perilous job."Every time we open the door of our truck on the roadway, we're putting our lives on the line," DeBoard said. "The red and blue lights are visible and because they're on every emergency vehicle, you know, almost universally, they demand the respect; they demand the attention of the drivers."DeBoard said he doesn't think drivers would pay attention to amber lights, for instance, that are widely used on non-emergency vehicles."They just don't demand the respect of the motoring public, like they have in the past," he said.While the bill does not appear to remove tow trucks' classification as emergency vehicles, DeBoard feels the legislation is tantamount to doing so. "I feel our drivers and tow truck drivers across the country are should be considered first responders," he said. "Oftentimes, we're there before the law enforcement agencies, fire departments, or we're left there to clean up afterwards if they have to rush off to another accident scene. A lot of times, we are the only first responder there."On Monday afternoon, KCCI left messages for floor managers of both houses' versions of the legislation, as well as with some of the groups in favor of the legislation, but has gotten no response as of Monday evening.The Senate transportation committee passed its version of the bill last Thursday; a House subcommittee will meet Tuesday to discuss its version.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementIowa tow truck drivers worry proposed legislation could put them in dangerHide TranscriptShow TranscriptCHRIS: IOWA’S TOWING INDUSTRY WORRIES THIS BILL TAKES AWAY EMERGENCY VEHICLE STATUS FROM THEIR TRUCKS, CREATING POTENTIAL HAZARDS FOR DRIVERS. &gt;&gt; EVERY TIME WE OPEN THE DOOR OF OUR TRUCK ON THE ROADWAY, WE’RE PUTTING OUR LIVES ON THE LINE. CHRIS: AND ANDY DEBOARD, PRESIDENT OF LONGTIME DES MOINES TOW COMPANY PERRY’S SERVICE, SAYS THE RED AND BLUE LIGHTS ON TOP OF THE COMPANY’S TRUCKS, HELP KEEP ITS DRIVERS SAFE. &gt;&gt; THE RED AND BLUE LIGHTS ARE VISIBLE. AND BECAUSE...

Iowa tow truck drivers worry proposed legislation could put them in danger

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