Disciplinary actions: Vehicle transport and disposal

July through September 2008

Bellingham — Montgomery Scrap Processing

  • Finding: Salvage.
  • Action: License suspended for 30 days, and fined $13,000.

Burien — Apex Towing Burlington

  • Finding: Surplus funds violation.
  • Action: Notice of correction.

Ridgefield — Jennings Recycling

  • Finding: Salvage.
  • Action: License cancelled for nonrenewal.

April through June 2008

Auburn — Aone Japanese Engine, Inc.

  • Finding: Salvage.
  • Action: Agreement and fined $2,000.

January through March 2008

Lynnwood — Shannon Towing

  • Finding: Tow truck violation.
  • Action: Fined $5,000.

Puyallup — Engel’s Towing and Recovery

  • Finding: Tow truck violation.
  • Action: Fined $15,000.

Renton — Cedar Rapids Towing

  • Finding: Tow truck violation.
  • Action: Fined $8,000.

Spokane — Bulldog Towing LLC

  • Finding: Tow truck violation
  • Action: Fined $5,000.

October through December 2007

Vancouver — Chapelle’s Towing, LLC

  • Finding: Tow truck violation.
  • Action: Fined $2,000.

Vancouver — JDH Enterprises

  • Finding: Salvage-storing more than 2 vehicles under hulk hauler license.
  • Action: Ordered to cease and desist, and fined $1,400.

Wenatchee — Dick’s Towing and Repair

  • Finding: Tow truck violation.
  • Action: Fined $2,000.

June through September 2007

Everett — Mid City Towing, Inc.

  • Finding: Failed to pay monetary penalty, and failed to remit surplus funds.
  • Action: License suspended and fined $6,500.

Federal Way — Federal Way Towing

  • Finding: Unlicensed wrecking at old address.
  • Action: Fined 15,000.

Port Angeles— Chris’ Towing

  • Finding: Failed to provide certificate of insurance.
  • Action: License suspended.

Yacolt — Yacolt Towing

  • Finding: Failed to provide liability insurance.
  • Action: License suspended.

January through May 2007

Morton — Dunn’s Hulk Hauling

  • Finding: Storing more than 2 vehicles at licensed location.
  • Action: License revoked.

Seattle — Gary’s Westside Towing

  • Finding: Had no established place of business (did not provide the hulk hauler change of address form).
  • Action: License suspended and fined $500.

Tacoma — Steven Auto Transport

  • Finding: Engaged in unlicensed dealer activity.
  • Action: Fined $6,000.

June 2006

Seattle — Linda P. Sanders dba Jottem Down Mobile Service

  • Finding: On May 15, 2006, Respondent delivered hearing request form to DOL. However, respondent cannot receive mail or be reached at the licensed location. Respondent failed to respond to Seattle Police Department’s request to inspect one of respondent’s transport vehicles. Therefore, respondent failed to preserve the right to a hearing and is now in default.
  • Action: Hulk hauler license suspended until the Department receives an inspection report from the Seattle Police Department that an established place of business exists as required and that transport vehicles are in compliance with safety requirements. Also fined $1,000.

May 2006

Olympia — Bret Swearingen and Cyndi Swearingen, dba AMT Towing, Inc

  • Finding:
    • Failed to timely send abandoned vehicle reports to the Department of Licensing.
    • Charged abandoned vehicle storage fees for more days than allowed by law.
    • Failed to limit storage to 5 days, as required, after failing to timely send the report to DOL concerning one vehicle, which resulted in failure to remit surplus funds in the amount of about $1,160.
  • Action: Ordered to immediately remit surplus funds of $1,160 to the Department of Licensing.

Seattle — Donna Maria Shaffer, dba Quality Automotive and Towing

  • Finding: During the abandoned vehicle processing of a vehicle, failed to mail the required notice of custody and sale to the lienholder of record.
  • Action: Fined $500.

April 2006

Longview — Clive L. Bond, Lonnie Bond, Joseph Richard, and Alan Engstrom as owners, Full Service Corporation dba Parr’s Towing and Recovery

  • Finding:
    • Failed to honor the 2 highest bids submitted for the purchase of a vehicle.
    • Refused to honor any bid, advising bidders that he needed about $2,000 for the vehicle.
    • Failed to remit surplus funds of or about $1,106 to the Department of Licensing for that vehicle.
    • Reported that no bids were received on the Abandoned Vehicle Report – Affidavit of Sale.
  • Action: Required to immediately remit surplus funds in the amount of $1,106 to the Department of Licensing, and fined $1,500.

Roy — David Bradley Brewer dba Pacific Avenue Transport

  • Finding: Loaned his vehicle transporter plate to another individual, and used his transporter license to conduct the business of a registered tow truck operator.
  • Action: Transporter license revoked.

March 2006

Sumner — Mark A. Srur and Stephen L. Ingroum, dba Force One Towing, Inc.

  • Finding: Didn’t include the required certification from the Washington State Patrol on the application for renewal of registered tow truck operator license registration.
  • Action: Tow truck operator registration suspended until the respondent complies with the requirements for an established place of business, is certified by the WSP, and meets all other requirements.

Vancouver — Walter D. Langley, dba Langley’s Towing

  • Finding:
    • Reported a false sale amount for the sale of a vehicle on the Abandoned Vehicle Report – Affidavit of Sale.
    • Failed to record the 2 highest bids in written form.
    • Failed to submit surplus funds in the amount of $2,200 to the State of Washington.
  • Action: Tow truck operator license suspended until surplus funds of $2,200 paid in full, and fined $3,000.

January 2006

Longview—Charles W. Wallace dba All Phase Towing

  • Finding: Failed to maintain and make entries into a master log regarding transactions relating to impounded vehicles, and failed to keep a transaction file on each vehicle.
  • Action: Tow truck operator license revoked and fined $2,000. Action is stayed for 1 year, provided that he complies with the law.