Argument with Tow Truck Operator, Left Big Mess

screensaver on 22/09/2023 - 07:57
Last edited 22/09/2023 - 09:39 by 1 other user

Yesterday I had a bad experience with a tow truck operator. Someone smashed into the back of my neighbour's car right in front of my house. They landed in front of my driveway leaving smashed glass, debris, pieces of plastic including 2 large pieces of plastic. No one was injured.

I directed the driver as to who owned the car he wrote off. Two tow truck operators appeared, same company written, one was nicer than the other. I asked them to put the large light plastic pieces in the back of the smashed van. One refused and said it was the council's job. The other one said it was safety glass and wouldn't damage tyres. I brought out a bucket, broom and tray, The nasty driver got abusive and had no intention of cleaning anything, he said I will call the RSPCA, I said I would report him for littering and wrote down his number and name etc off his truck. The two car owners ended up sweeping it up.

I thought I would check if there were any laws about this and found this, they are supposed to carry broom and clean up Turns out I was right and they are obviously leaving mess everywhere.

Automotive

Comments

  • MS Paint on 22/09/2023 - 08:00
    +61

    You are a noble citizen Pam.

    • Seraphin7 on 22/09/2023 - 11:16
      +10

      Ah, yes. I was reading this post, thinking to myself something's not quite adding up here. And you've provided the key to the lock.

    • HeWhoKnows on 23/09/2023 - 08:31
      -1

      AND…..

      You are supposed to say……

      "the tow truck drivers are responsible for cleaning up the mess"

    • lgacb08 on 24/09/2023 - 05:39

      Ah yes, Palm, you've done it again!

    • Mill House on 24/09/2023 - 12:26
      +2

      rear ended and the person didn't clean up the mess

    • screensaver on 22/09/2023 - 08:01
      +4

      did you read the regulations

        • [Deactivated] on 22/09/2023 - 11:10
          +7

          You have a habit of blowing these things way out or all proportion, and I have no doubt that this is another one of those cases.

          shhhhh ….. I like reading these blown out of all proportion cases; they're fun & a learning experience as I didn't know about the broom regs

        • Deridas on 22/09/2023 - 19:55
          +18

          "Cleaning up after an accident

          Before leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, you must remove any debris caused by, or relating to, the motor vehicle you are towing unless otherwise directed by a police officer."

          Surprisingly, Pam is actually correct here. I learnt something today :O

    • jv on 22/09/2023 - 11:29
      +22

      It’s not the tow truck drivers job to sweep up the area

      Yes it is.

    • Liamhos08 on 23/09/2023 - 08:20
      +4

      Clearly you're not familiar with tow truck drivers…

    • oranglama on 23/09/2023 - 11:00

      Lol

  • apsilon on 22/09/2023 - 08:03
    +58

    Cool story. I honestly didn't see that RSPCA twist coming.

    • holdenmg on 22/09/2023 - 08:06
      +8

      RSPCA?

      Was there a rabid dog on the loose?

      • screensaver on 22/09/2023 - 08:07
        +64

        yeh the driver was a dingo

      • djones145 on 22/09/2023 - 12:30
        +11

        Road Side Professional Clean Association

      • CalmLemons on 23/09/2023 - 23:32

        I believe the tow truck driver was being sarcastic to Pam.

    • Crow K on 22/09/2023 - 09:27
      +1

      Yeah, that's the Pam twist. Classic, and what we are basically here for.

      Best nonPam example I can think of is in the original movie Clerks when the ATF guy comes to investigate the Quick Stop for selling cigarettes to a minor and he's like "The mother was extremely concerned and called the EPA" "The Environmental Protection Agency??" "Yeah, and then they called us so now I'm here checking it out"

      • SBOB on 22/09/2023 - 12:42
        +3

        What do you mean I have to drink this coffee hot…
        Do you sell hubcaps for a '72 Pinto hatchback?

  • 7ekn00 on 22/09/2023 - 08:08
    +3

    Print it out and show them next time, I look forward to Karen videos!

  • brownsound on 22/09/2023 - 08:30
    +1

    sucks for all involved

    • MS Paint on 22/09/2023 - 08:37
      +58

      Are you volunteering?

      • Porker on 22/09/2023 - 09:55
        +1

        +1!!!

      • kiriakoz on 23/09/2023 - 17:22

        First time I've ever laughed out loud whilst reading OzBargain. Don't make a habit of it as I creeped out the entire family.

    • ntt on 23/09/2023 - 11:37

      we need a diagram for this too!

  • holdenmg on 22/09/2023 - 08:43

    Does your Neighbour have off street parking?

    • Dumax on 22/09/2023 - 08:54
      +43

      Except the Tow Truck Industry Act 1998 says (almost vebatim what is on the page):

      65 Cleaning up at scene of accident
      The driver of a tow truck that tows a motor vehicle from the scene of an accident must, before leaving the scene, remove any debris caused by, or relating to, the motor vehicle unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

      Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.

      As much as I hate to agree with Pam, she seems to be correct (at least for NSW).

        • Eeples on 23/09/2023 - 00:23
          +7

          How does your first sentence still apply when the debris was all over her driveway?

          You are suggesting that isn’t somehow her business?

        • PeterSnoot on 23/09/2023 - 09:12
          +1

          sentence

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 22/09/2023 - 16:06
        -3

        Yes, but debris is not defined and the common definition doesn't really relate to parts of a car owned by the owner of said car. Towie might have done a night school JD and knew their rights.

        • spaceflight on 22/09/2023 - 19:19
          +7

          and the common definition doesn't really relate to parts of a car

          Yes it does

          Webster defines it as

          the remains of something broken down or destroyed

          Cambridge defines it as

          broken or torn pieces of something larger

          Any pieces of a car after an accident are clearly debris according to the common definition

      • AustriaBargain on 23/09/2023 - 23:53

        Is Pam the Tow Truck Industry Act of 1998 police, how was this her business?

  • DarkOz on 22/09/2023 - 08:48

    hellopam strikes again!

  • elgrande on 22/09/2023 - 08:53
    -5

    If its on the road itss council's issue, not the tow truck driver.

    If its on your driveway its your issue.

  • 87percent on 22/09/2023 - 08:57
    -2

    wouldn't be surprised if you came back one day to find a dumped car blocking your driveway or something

    • [Deactivated] on 23/09/2023 - 02:19

      Or lots of broken glass and plast… oh wait, never mind.

  • screensaver on 22/09/2023 - 09:14

    I cannot find the company on google or facebook etc to leave a review

      • Sleeqb7 on 22/09/2023 - 09:36
        +3

        It's not a fake review, it's an interaction with a company during the course of them performing their role, being a customer doesn't mean you have no interaction with the company.

    • Crow K on 22/09/2023 - 09:34
      +13

      Good news Pam, I called them up and they said sorry. Turns out the tow truck driver had a back injury and was only just getting around to processing 9/11 but he regrets acting the way he did and they're all sorry.

      They said they told Coles about the incident and you can go down there and get some half price Pringles by going to the meat department and saying "Hi I'm Pam and I'm here for car smash discount apology Pringles".

    • holdenmg on 22/09/2023 - 10:42
      +1

      Maybe the business crashed and you drove them out of business. lol

  • DoctorCalculon on 22/09/2023 - 09:27
    +4

    he said I will call the RSPCA

    Makes perfect sense…
    Thanks for making me spit out my morning covfefe whilst reading that word salad.

  • screensaver on 22/09/2023 - 09:31
    +4

    Surprisingly I did not know the law and apparently neither do they

    • hasher22 on 22/09/2023 - 11:07
      +4

      You got lucky by assuming they need to clean or tidy up on the spot when you argued with them.

      A lot of businesses and people in general don't know the law, specially workers when they are fed misleading information from higher ups. While this shouldn't happen, every single workplace I have ever worked in has broken the law in some form.

      All we can do is try educate them, show them proof or escalate it with proof. Damn, even cops don't even know all the laws.

      • screensaver on 22/09/2023 - 11:16
        +3

        tey have to have a license and know their legal obligations

        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 22/09/2023 - 16:04
          +2

          There's nothing in the Acts or Regs that actually requires a towie to actually know their legal obligations.

          • MITM on 24/09/2023 - 05:42
            +1

            @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: Ignorance is no excuse. “But officer, I didn’t know the 100kph sign meant I can’t go faster than 100kph - nobody actually told me.”

  • randomusername2017 on 22/09/2023 - 09:43
    +2

    Imaginary accident scene… nothing to sweep up.

    Plot twist..tow truck driver was an ex woolies security guard.

  • apple2016 on 22/09/2023 - 10:16

    Take a pic of the mess, get it clean up professionally and send the bills to the insurance company?

  • Nutrino on 22/09/2023 - 10:35

    Come on… we all want to see the Ms paint diagram!…

  • brendanm on 22/09/2023 - 10:38
    +3

    he said I will call the RSPCA

    Lol

  • coffeeinmyveins on 22/09/2023 - 10:42
    +7

    why do problems seem to follow you everywhere Pam?

    If all you smell everywhere you go is crap, check the bottom of your shoe.

    • screensaver on 22/09/2023 - 10:56
      -2

      yes there was dog poo on the nature strip mixed in with broken glass

  • ValueInvesting on 22/09/2023 - 11:04

    PSA for all OzBargain members: please do not feed the trolls.

  • Drakesy on 22/09/2023 - 11:37
    +1

    HelloPAM
    Cool Rant!

  • djones145 on 22/09/2023 - 12:32
    +1

    ive call the Road Side Professional Clean Association for you Pam
    they said they will contact you for more details
    those towing company are in big trouble
    the violation professional standard 1.34 section 1 paragraph 4
    Jail time for them

    good work

  • pharkurnell on 22/09/2023 - 13:09
    +2

    In the real world in the last 20+ yrs I've never seen a tow truck with a broom on it, nor seen any towy sweeping anything after loading up.. Load up and piss off..

    Regularly see bits of car left behind at scene of accidents though.

    • holdenmg on 22/09/2023 - 13:43
      +1

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/801343
      Good deals on Brooms for Witches, tradies, towies and others.

      • pharkurnell on 22/09/2023 - 13:44
        +2

        I'll buy a dozen and take them round to accident sites and sell em to towys…. what sort of reaction you think I'll get?? good earner?

        btw: I have ambo cover

    • MITM on 24/09/2023 - 05:48

      @pharkurnell Yes, but the 2 car drivers carried brooms because Pam says they ended up sweeping it up.

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 22/09/2023 - 14:06
    +4

    Most people wouldn't say anything but you were right and good for you for standing up for the rules. The tow truck operators want the cash without the work.

  • Tomcruise on 22/09/2023 - 14:54
    +3

    Ive seen Penalty notices issued to Towies by HWP and RMS Compliance for not having the correct Broom or Shovel etc.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 22/09/2023 - 15:42
    +6

    What a horrible day to be able to read

  • mrhugo on 22/09/2023 - 16:18
    +3

    The part about the RSPCA was very random!

  • Herbse on 22/09/2023 - 16:50

    Yes

  • sam-1966 on 22/09/2023 - 18:00
    +1

    Laughed when I got my daily email from Price Hipster … first two items are brooms.

  • Will Mcdonald on 22/09/2023 - 18:09
    +4

    Tow truck drivers r pretty much one of the lowest people in Australia society, always running some shitty scam on tows or taking peoples car hostage when they were never asked to be towed. Never have met a single honest tow truck driver and still waiting for that to happen one day. I dont think u should expect much from them.

  • Tech5 on 22/09/2023 - 18:31

    Wonder if comments here would be nicer if OPs name was hannah or something rather than Pam lol

  • tasty-falafel on 22/09/2023 - 21:03
    -5

    Sorry Karen, the tow truck drivers are not your slaves. Perhaps you should adjust your attitude and move on.

    • screensaver on 22/09/2023 - 21:38
      +1

      Well Ken Im not their slave either

    • [Deactivated] on 23/09/2023 - 02:15
      +4

      It's part of their job. If they get the tow, it's their responsibility to clean the road. (Not just to steal everything off the car later including the spare.)

    • Snoozer on 23/09/2023 - 08:18
      +3

      If you took the time to read the linked page it specifies it is their legal responsibility to clean up any remaining debris.

      • LFO on 23/09/2023 - 10:46
        -1

        "to clean up any remaining debris"

        Problem here is **how much cleanup is enough cleanup?".

        Most streets are littered with garbage of all kinds.
        Is the expectation that, after an event, the road has to end clean as a whistle??
        Vacuum too?

        I've seen oil spills "cleaned" by proficient fire brigade stuff and there is so much crap left that is not funny.

        Expectations play a roll here.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/09/2023 - 02:13
    +1

    I've read all the replies, and nope… the responsibility falls to me. Why did the tow truck driver say he was going to call the RSPCA… are you really ugly!?

    • screensaver on 23/09/2023 - 05:08
      +1

      because I dared ask him to put light plastic pieces in the back of the van

      • LFO on 23/09/2023 - 10:40

        but why the "RSPCA" ???

        • screensaver on 23/09/2023 - 11:21
          +3

          trying to imply I was barking orders, when I merely asked, but he knew I wasnt going to go away without a fight at that point, he knew I meant business because I told him I was going to report him for littering and went to get a pen and paper

          • CalmLemons on 23/09/2023 - 23:35

            @screensaver: I don't think so re barking orders, more so because they would have absolutely nothing to do with this situation at all that calling them would be funny.

          • AustriaBargain on 23/09/2023 - 23:54
            +2

            @screensaver: Wait, he was calling you a dog by saying he'd call the RSPCA?

          • LFO on 24/09/2023 - 10:41

            @screensaver: "went to get a pen and paper"

            Do you mean the smartphone?

  • 2esc on 23/09/2023 - 09:03
    -1

    Question how often do you see tow truck drivers provided with signage and traffic controllers while doing their job?

    Would you be happy sweeping a road. Emergency services require traffic to slow to 40 but anyone else (road workers) there is no requirement.

    Would you be happy sweeping a road while cars are going past at 100kph? So thats why they usually just grab the bigger debris.

    Maybe all tow truck drivers should not take on any of these jobs unless 2 traffic controllers are provided? How much will that cost?

    Yes there are dodgy tow truck drivers but every single job out there has dodgy people involved. Charities, Religon, Police etc etc no industry is squeaky clean.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/09/2023 - 17:10

      Would you be happy sweeping a road.

      I sure would. One of the easiest jobs on the planet. (You only sweep when there's breaks in traffic.)

      Yes there are dodgy tow truck drivers but every single job out there has dodgy people involved. Charities, Religon, Police etc etc no industry is squeaky clean.

      Hm, maybe. I know a mechanic who tells customers to remove their spare when they get their car towed home because they can't afford repairs right away, because it's so common for the tow guys to steal it.

      • MITM on 24/09/2023 - 05:56

        And how then do you get your spare home ? Roll it or chuck it in an Uber ?
        Usually you’d get a lift with the towie.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/09/2023 - 05:58

          They leave it at his workshop until next visit.

  • SpicyStew on 23/09/2023 - 15:22
    +1

    The two car owners ended up sweeping it up.

    Then what is your problem?

    • screensaver on 23/09/2023 - 17:28
      -2

      I didnt say I had a problem

    • CalmLemons on 23/09/2023 - 23:34

      If I were the two owners I would just do it out of being just productive members of society so pam can stop complaining.

      Sometimes easier to just clean up the mess than deal with Pam.

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