Auto Club Says Don't Be A Victim of Bandit Tow Trucks
10 June 1999
Auto Club Says Don't Be A Victim of Bandit Tow Trucks
LOS ANGELES--June 9, 1999--Bandit tow truck drivers, unauthorized drivers that cruise city streets looking for accident victims or vehicle breakdowns, have grown from an industry nuisance to a costly threat for motorists and law enforcement, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California."Bandit tow trucks operate illegally on many fronts," according to Dan Brogdon, claims investigation manager. "The drivers listen to police band radios to learn the location of auto crashes. Typically, the drivers get business by speeding to arrive at a crash scene first and convincing accident victims to use their tow truck services. This is illegal."
In addition to being illegal, the practice is becoming more competitive and violent. In February, Los Angeles police arrested one tow truck driver on suspicion of murder for the beating death of another tow truck driver. Police are investigating the possibility that the beating occurred in a dispute over a customer. There have been other incidents where bandit tow drivers have scared off legitimate tow drivers by brandishing a weapon or making verbal threats.
"The Auto Club is the largest provider of roadside assistance in the region, and it provides auto insurance to thousands of Southern Californians, so we see the impact of bandit tow truck drivers from the dual perspectives of towing and insurance claims," said Brogdon. "Bandit tow drivers are a blight on the towing industry and a financial threat to motorists."
A bandit tow truck driver may convince the motorist that their motor club or the police sent him. He will demand immediate payment for the tow or attempt to take the car to a garage or body shop that pays them under the table for the business.
In the case of an auto accident, unauthorized tow drivers also may work with "cappers" or "runners." These associates arrive at the scene unsolicited to persuade victims to use doctors, lawyers, body shops and a tow truck that they represent and from whom they receive illegal kickbacks.
Cappers or runners may even offer to waive the insurance deductible (which is illegal in most cases), provide a rental car free or claim that legitimate tow truck drivers will charge excessive storage fees. Once the victim agrees, the runner summons the bandit tow truck by cell phone. The police officers may be less likely to intervene if the victim has agreed to allow the bandit to tow the vehicle.
Bandit tow truck drivers or runners often are the first point of contact for an even larger insurance scam. Statistics indicate that 45 percent of auto accident insurance claims in California and more than 67 percent in Los Angeles County contain some type of fraud. The tow truck drivers and runners can receive thousands of dollars in kickbacks by referring the victim to corrupt auto body shops, lawyers and doctors.
These other parts of the fraud chain inflate repair and medical costs charged to the victim's insurance company. The inflated charges and insurance companies' costs that go into fighting fraud add to the cost of insurance, and that can increase premiums for policyholders.
"People need to know how bandit tow drivers operate," added Brogdon. "Bandits or their associates may be exceedingly smooth and accommodating or they may try to use the confusion of the moment and intimidate the motorist into allowing the car to be towed. There are cases in which a bandit has hooked up a motorist's car and simply told the owner where to pick up the car prior to towing it away."
"Motorists can take control over the situation, but they need to be firm and wait for an authorized tow driver or the one that they called," noted Brogdon.
The Auto Club suggests the following tips for motorists when they need a tow truck:
1. Beware of anyone who arrives at the scene of the accident and
offers advice regarding towing, insurance coverage, attorney
services, waiver of deductibles, medical services or providing a
rental car for free. Often someone other than a tow truck driver
appears first to attempt to convince the motorist to use his
services. This way they evade the prohibition against a tow truck
arriving at an accident scene unsummoned. Once an agreement is
made, the runner or capper calls the tow driver.
2. Take control; call for the tow truck. Ask the dispatch operator
which tow company is expected to arrive. Don't accept service
from a tow truck that arrives on the scene unsummoned. You may
lose control of where your car is towed.
3. Look for a uniformed tow truck driver with arm patches, a truck
with several large, highly visible decals representing the motor
club that was called or the authorized police tow company. Ask
the driver for proof that he represents the motor club.
4. If the car owner doesn't have a repair location to which the
vehicle can be towed, have it taken to the tow facility where it
can be put in storage until the insurance company can be
contacted.
5. Know the towing and payment policies for your motor club. For
example, the Auto Club pays its tow contractor directly, so Auto
Club members should know to refuse service from any driver who
demands to be paid for a basic tow, even though he or she claims
to be from the Auto Club.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs and legislative advocacy.
Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
