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Tennessee Tow Operator Charged With Auto Theft

A towing company owner has been arrested for auto theft after he refused to release an impounded vehicle to Knoxville (Tenn.) Police Department officers without payment of the towing fee. The situation arose on Thursday, January 6 after Billy Ogle, of Ogle’s Wrecker, in Knoxville, impounded a 2012 Hyundai Sonata at the request of a property owner. The car was blocking the driveway to a private residence. Once the Hyundai was at Ogle’s lot, Ogle notified the city police department in accordance with state and local law. An NCIC search revealed that the vehicle had been stolen before it was left abandoned at the tow site. Shortly thereafter, two police officers appeared at Ogle’s tow lot with a tow truck demanding that Ogle release the Hyundai so it could be transferred to the city pound. When Ogle refused to release the vehicle until he was paid his towing fee, things turned ugly. After an escalating confrontation between the officers and Ogle, Ogle was handcuffed and arrested for felony auto theft. If convicted, he is facing a sentence of 3 to 6 years in prison.

By |2022-01-27T20:42:03-06:00January 26th, 2022|Other Legal Issues, Vehicle Impounding & Liens|0 Comments
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Keeping Tow Trucks at Residence Cost Homeowner Over $760,000

In 2018, Anthony Jesmer worked as a tow truck driver for his father’s company, H&M Auto Recycling (H&M), in west Tennessee.  H&M acquires automobiles and either disassembles them for scrap or fixes them for resale.  Jesmer’s duties consisted of picking up vehicles and delivering them wherever directed by his father.  Jesmer regularly kept H&M tow trucks at his house for use when dispatched on a call.  He sometimes stored vehicles at his house for delivery the following day.

By |2021-12-22T11:09:24-06:00December 22nd, 2021|Other Legal Issues|0 Comments
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Getting Direct Payment On Insured Total-Loss Vehicles Retained By Owners

Has this ever happened to you? You receive a call from your local police agency to respond to a single vehicle accident. Upon arrival at the scene, you see a 2008 Chevy Cavalier down in a ravine. You can immediately tell that the vehicle is a total loss; salvage worth about $200. The good news is that the vehicle owner, who is still on the scene, informs you that he has full-coverage insurance.

By |2017-02-10T19:17:58-06:00December 10th, 2016|Billing & Collections|0 Comments
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Contract Cancellation Clauses

A TowLawyer.com subscriber called me last week about a serious problem with a local municipality. About a year ago, he won the bid contract to provide the city towing services. Recently, however, an insurance company complained about the amount of a tow bill that it had paid for a city-ordered tow. The city recommended that the tow operator refund part of the bill. The tow operator – who felt that his invoice was fair and in compliance with the contract – refused to pay the city’s recommended refund. A few days later, he received a letter from the city manager advising that his towing contract, which still had over two years left on it, was being cancelled in thirty (30) days. That is why he contacted me through the “Talk to a Tow Lawyer” feature on the website.

By |2017-02-10T19:22:05-06:00October 23rd, 2016|Other Legal Issues|0 Comments
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Not Playing By The Rules

At TowLawyer.com we receive numerous complaints about towing rotation list rules not being enforced. Most rotation lists are governed by written rules and regulations which set forth guidelines for participation such as equipment specifications, response times, minimum levels of insurance, storage yard requirements, and call dispatching protocols. Typically the rules also contain prohibitions against obtaining multiple spots on the list by using bogus company names, skipping calls without good cause, etc. Suspension or permanent removal is normally called for in the event of a violation.

By |2017-02-10T19:23:15-06:00September 19th, 2016|Tow Rotation Lists/Contracts|0 Comments
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Non-Competition Agreements: “I’m Moving On”

As a young boy growing up in a towing family in Tennessee, I remember hearing Hank Snow’s baritone voice warbling over the AM radio in the shop: “I’m a-moving on.” Little did I realize then that “I’m Moving On” could be the theme song for many tow truck drivers.

By |2017-02-10T19:23:55-06:00August 27th, 2016|Human Resources|0 Comments
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Towing Bill Collections Hampered By New Credit Bureau Agreement

Towing companies that impound vehicles rarely collect their full charges on unclaimed vehicles. Even after deducting the proceeds from the auction sale of the abandoned vehicle, there is usually a large balance, or deficiency, still outstanding for towing, labor and storage fees.

By |2017-02-10T19:24:49-06:00August 5th, 2016|Billing & Collections|0 Comments
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Recovery Property Damage Claims on Public Property

This might be the most common case where a tow company is likely to get “stiffed” on their tow bill. In other blogs, we’ve covered the situation where there is property damage to a privately owned house or property. The tow company should get an assignment from the property owner. An assignment helps the tow company “stand in the shoes” of the damaged property owner, which can help them collect their bill on a liability only claim.

By |2017-02-10T19:29:12-06:00April 30th, 2016|Other Legal Issues|0 Comments
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