On March 17, 2014, in STO's Region 4, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation held its first regional, face-to-face strategic planning session (several are scheduled around the state).
The open sessions had scheduled times with different groups overseen by TDLR; the department is looking to open the lines of communication and find ways to better interact with businesses in the state.
At the meeting in Region 4, STO 2nd Vice President David Escalera (owner of 956 Towing), said approximately 40 towing companies were on-hand to discuss TDLR practices and impacts on towing and storage facilities. Also attending the meeting were Fidel Cortez, Region 4 Director, Ramiro Sanchez, Past 2nd Vice President, and other STO members.
"TDLR wanted to see and brainstorm with local towers for input how they feel about TDLR," Escalera said.
"It was opinionated stuff; what towers like and don't like about the program and what changes they'd like to see made.""It was about trying to find a common ground to make things more efficient."He said the meeting followed an itinerary set by TDLR that kicked off with questions from the department on what towers felt it was doing right. Many felt that the meeting itself was a positive step.
"What TDLR are doing is the best thing they've ever done for us in coming out to us to see what we want them to do better, what they are doing well already," said Sanchez.
"The TDLR rep seemed interested in helping towers and adjusting the rules and regs. I think he will go back and make a good decision."When it came to questions about how TDLR could improve, the agency was clear that towers should feel free to speak without fear of reprisal, Escalera said.
"I commend TDLR for their approach," he said.
"When it came to what towers didn't like, there was a lot said ... and they were very receptive. There were lots of positives and negatives—it was like a hands-on survey." One of biggest topics in Region 4 was 24-hour vehicle releases. Towers discussed the safety concerns of having someone available, usually a female dispatcher and often in the middle of the night, to deal with an irate, sometimes still intoxicated person.
Escalera said TDLR personnel admitted not having considered the 24-hour staffing rules from that perspective, and discussed having the storage fees adjusted if a vehicle were picked up within a certain timeframe the next morning. He said towers in the meeting agreed there could be some common ground with TDLR by exchanging some storage income to combat those particular safety concerns
"For the first of its kind meeting, it was a good step," Escalera said.
"Now we know what it's about, we as an association want to approach TDLR and push [tese meetings] further and make them a regular thing ... and advertise them to get more response from towers to participate and to come out.""I recommend that all towers that can, show up at all these meetings," Sanchez added.
"More than the 30-40 we had; I want to see 500 towers at these meetings—we can change things, get TDLR to make rules that will benefit our towers. ... Show them that we are involved and interested in working together."
