On March 24, in STO's Region 6, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation held its third regional, face-to-face strategic planning session in Dallas. Tommy Anderson, executive director of STO, Jason Ward, STO Region 6 representative, and the entire STO office staff also attended this meeting.
"I thought it was a great meeting, but I was surprised there were only 25 or 30 towers there," said Joann Messina, STO's co-founder and legislative chair.
"One of the things TDLR is doing well with towers is communication, and having these regional meetings was huge." She said TDLR hosting regional meetings, rather than only having meetings in Austin, was a big improvement. She also is presiding officer of the TDLR Towing, Booting and Storage Advisory Board.
Jim Fuller, owner of Fuller's Towing in Canton, was dubious about the meetings, but adamant that tower involvement is essential in the process to educate TDLR reps on the industry.
"What I'm happy about most is the fact that we are having good participation at these meetings in most areas," STO's Anderson said.
"There are things TDLR needs to do differently regarding its regulations," Fuller said.
"I've never been afraid of nobody until TDLR came around. ... They covered at the meeting that they wanted to get our input on what TDLR can do to be a better organization, more friendly,"Fuller said a big part of TDLR's reach into the industry is in trying to crack down on the "predatory towers," though part of the problem with that is they "overreach and are unforgiving" while operating as if all towing businesses are the same.
"We talked about the penalty matrix. That was to me the best thing to do," Fuller said.
"I always thought the penalty matrix was way excessive as far as towers are concerned. ... My contention is that all towing companies are not the same like all doctors or dentists are not the same."Messina agreed that many towers in the meeting harped on TDLR about fines and enforcement of licensed towers, while not doing enough to catch and enforce sanctions on unlicensed towers.
"Some of the towers' suggestions were for all the TDLR folks to be on same page. You can call TDLR to ask a question, and it seems if you get three different reps, you'll get three different answers," Fuller said.
"That compromises the inspection program they do, and the related penalty matrix was foremost on everybody's mind." TDLR ought to listen to us and see what we do, without a chip on their shoulder or being vindictive. Maybe the fees we pay for being authorized and licensed to work should buy us some grace with them on inspections before being slapped with a big fine.
"We've got to speak up," Fuller said.
"The old adage that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I've always been afraid that if I squeaked, they'd come down on me. So I've kept my mouth shut all these years.""We all need to understand how important it is for our voices to be heard," Anderson said.
"Together we can make a difference.""We in Texas are lucky, not a lot of state agencies take the time for public input like this," Messina said.
"As much as we complain about TDLR, they do listen. Towers need to let TDLR know what they think."Though this round of regional meetings is done, Messina said towers can still give feedback to TDLR online at http:imagine.tdlr.texas.gov, or email imagine@tdlr.texas.gov.
"Go write a couple sentences about a rule to be changed or whatever; towers can even just read other posts and add comments to agree or not," she said.
Additionally, there is a schedule for comments at every public advisory meeting. If towers aren't in Austin to watch, they can watch live online or go in the archives to watch meetings and keep up with what TDLR is working on.
Towers can always reach out to Messina or anyone else at STO, or call anyone on the TDLR website to give feedback throughout the year.
