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Culpeper board approves towing ordinance Date published: 12/2/2009
BY DONNIE JOHNSTON
Some little guys got a big lift last night when the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors voted to change an ordinance that would have required tow truck operators responding to heavy-duty accidents to have two trucks instead of one. The original ordinance, brought to the Board by the county Towing Board, would have eliminated all but two county towing companies from the law enforcement call list. "We're in favor of rules and regulations, but we're against requiring us to own two pieces of equipment that cost $250,000 each," David Williams of DB Towing said at a public hearing. "That's kind of a steep price in today's economy, especially when other counties only require one." The Board agreed. "I don't want to have an ordinance that hurts the little guy," said Supervisor Larry Aylor. Aylor and Supervisor Sue Hansohn asked Culpeper County Sheriff's Capt. Russell Lane, who chairs the Towing Board, why two towing companies couldn't be called when there was a wreck involving some heavy vehicle such as a tractor-trailer. Lane said that this was possible but that calling in a second company could delay opening a major road such as U.S. 15/29 following an accident. He added that it had been the Virginia State Police--who respond to most such accidents--who suggested putting only towing companies with two trucks on the call list. Lane said that there are usually only four or five such heavy-duty calls each year. But tow truck operator Rusty Crowe, who is on the Towing Board, said there is "a whole lot more to heavy-duty" than just responding to tractor-trailer accidents. "Heavy-duty is classified as 10,000 pounds and up," he said. He added that counties like Spotsylvania and Albemarle--which have interstate highways running through them--don't require two trucks to be on the law enforcement call list. Supervisor Tom Underwood said that the only tow truck operator on the Tow Board to vote for the two-truck ordinance was a member who already owned two trucks. The Tow Board vote was 5-2 with the remaining two tow truck operators voting against the requirement. The Tow Board is made up of three tow truck operators, three law enforcement officers and a private citizen. It was Underwood who moved that the towing ordinance be adopted but that companies on the call list only be required to own a single recovery vehicle capable of lifting 20 tons and towing 40 tons. With that single change, the ordinance was unanimously adopted and was followed by applause from the tow operators in the audience. Donnie Johnston:
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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