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August 12, 2003
Jeffery Memorial Community Center
Third and Spruce
Rawlins, Wyoming
Committee Members
Chairman Stan Cooper.
Senator Bill Vasey.
Representative Bill Brechtel.
Karen Ashcraft Byrne, Attorney.
Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.
All meeting materials and handouts provided to the Committee by the Legislative Service Office (LSO), public officials, lobbyists, and the public are referenced in the Meeting Materials Index, attached to the minutes. These materials are on file at the LSO and are part of the official record of the meeting.
Chairman Stan Cooper called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Roll call was taken. The Subcommittee reviewed Wyoming Statutes §§ 31-18-801 through 31-18-808. [Appendix 2].
Chairman Stan Cooper welcomed the participants and thanked them for coming. The Subcommittee discussed the requirements for tow trucks: overweight requirements and exemptions, appropriate distances to be able to tow a disabled tracker/trailer and a possible self-permitting process. The Subcommittee discussed what the phrase "[t]he limitation on the number of vehicles in combination imposed by W.S. 31-18-802 may be exceeded for the purpose of towing disabled or abandoned vehicles or vehicle combinations from highways to the nearest point of safekeeping where the vehicle or vehicles can safely be reduced in size to comply with W.S. 31-18-802 whereby the safety of the disabled vehicle or other traffic will be maintained" meant in W.S. § 31-18-808(a) (Emphasis added).
The Department of Transportation's rule definition of "nearest point of safekeeping" is an incorporated municipality. Various tow truck operators said that this definition created problems because some incorporated municipalities do not have the requisite facilities to safely split a vehicle or safely unload the contents of a trailer. Everyone agreed that safety both for the tow truck operator and the driving public was of utmost importance. Sometimes the closest town is not the safest town.
A handout with recommendations was introduced regarding recommendations on tow truck requirement problems. [Appendices 3].
One suggestion was to change the definition of "nearest point of safekeeping" to involve a number of miles – perhaps a radius of 250 miles from the point of the towing hook up. Another suggestion was to define "safekeeping" as "a qualified service area." The main objective is to get a disabled rig to a town where it could be repaired and that town choice could change depending on the repair problem or the warranty requirements. Sleeter Dover, Director, Department of Transportation, said the department was willing to work on a new definition of "safekeeping."
The Subcommittee discussed federal regulations and the need to have state law comply with federal requirements. It was suggested that more truck stops and pull out rest stops might be helpful. Mr. Dover stated that he did not want the state to assume responsibility for truck parking. He stated there is a list of available commercial facilities. The best source for that information would be the local tow truck operators. Self-permitting exceptions were also discussed. Some tow truck operators would like to have an annual permit the way Colorado and Montana do.
Mr. Dover said he didn't think legislation was necessary regarding these tow truck issues and proposed for the Department of Transportation to work with interested groups to attempt to resolve the situation and report back either to the Subcommittee or the Joint Interim Transportation and Highways Committee. The Subcommittee unanimously determined that this proposal would comprise official Subcommittee action.
It was suggested that certain changes needed to be made regarding incorporating tow trucks into the definition of "emergency vehicles" in some instances and modifying when the tow trucks could use emergency lights. The Subcommittee voted unanimously to have draft legislation prepared regarding these matters.
The issues of abandoned vehicles and tow trucking responsibilities were raised. After a short discussion, it was decided that this topic was beyond the scope of the Subcommittee but that those concerned could write to the CoChairman and perhaps present the topic before the Committee as a whole.
There being no further business, Chairman Stan Cooper adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Representative Stan Cooper,
Chairman