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GSTA Accomplishments

A Towman's Association for All Towmen

We continue to work hard for you at the GSTA and we want to let you know how far we have come over the past ten years. Here are a few of our accomplishments.

Bill A2871signed into law, wrecker weight limit relief is here.  This bill provides a 50 mile radius exemption on weight limits as well as a wrecker decal for identification.  Click here for more information.

GSTA fights towing rate regulation by the Dept.of Insurance and WINS!  Bill number S1785 overturns the Fair Act as it applies to towing and storage rates. Click here for more information.

GARDEN STATE TOWMAN’S ASSOCIATION, INC.

Winner Of

Tow Times People’s Choice Awards

2003

Most Successful Legislation Program

2003

Outstanding Executive Award

2002

Most Progressive Association

2002

Best Association Website

2001

Most Progressive Association

2000

TRAA Certification Services Award

In The Past the GSTA has:

Built Relationships:

bullet Established a relationship with the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
bullet Established a relationship with the New Jersey Insurance Commissioner's Office. 
bullet Established a relationship with the New Jersey Traffic Officer’s Association.
bullet Established a relationship with the New Jersey Police Chiefs Association.
bullet Established a relationship with the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
bullet Established a relationship with the New Jersey State Police.
bullet Established a relationship with the Statewide Incident Management Group
bullet Established relationships with Legislators across the State.
bullet Established relationships with Motor Clubs.
bullet Established relationships with Associate members as well as distributors and manufacturers.

Lobbied for Legislation:

bullet Introduced and passed legislation S1785 which overturned the Fair Act as it applies to towing and storage rates.  Towing and storage rates for accident and stolen vehicles are no longer regulated by the State Department of Insurance, which had locked in rates at an unrealistically low rate for years.  Towing regulations now return back to the local municipalities.  The GSTA encourages all towers to request towing rate and specification updates from their local government.  The GSTA has material and support to give to any member to assist them in the process of updating their local ordinances.
bullet Introduced and passed legislation A2871 which increased the wrecker weight exemptions from 5 miles to 50 miles and up to 150,000 lbs.  Wreckers had only a 5 mile exemption from weight laws which provided no room for dropping off loads or splitting units when the location was unacceptable.  Towers were getting ticketed on overweight for both units, which was covered in existing laws but vague enough for some agencies to ticket it.  Once these agencies saw a money-making opportunity, towers became an easy target.  This law was a direct response to the ticketing and a combined effort of government and industry to define a gray area in existing law.  In addition a systems of tow truck decals/placarding was established for consumer interests, to be phased in at a later date.
bullet Introduced and passed legislation A3011, the legislation giving municipalities the choice of low-bid or rotational towing contracts.
bullet Stopped bills on three separate occasions that would cause the licensing or registration of tow trucks. These bills were ill-founded and would have hurt the industry.
bullet Introduced legislation to prevent municipalities from demanding free towing from their police towers.
bullet Supported Auto Body Shop Association legislation.

Addressed Issues:

bullet Hosted a seminar with the League of Municipalities at their annual convention to address S1785 the bill that overturned the Fair Act as it applies to towing and storage rates.  Towing ordinances and rotations lists were discussed as well as towing ordinance specifications.
bullet Launched a letter writing campaign to all N.J. Representatives endorsing rotational towing ordinances. Over 400 letters were signed and sent by GSTA members.
bullet Aggressively attacked the towing and storage fee schedule regulated by the N.J. F.A.I.R. Act. GSTA initiated meetings with the Department of Insurance and provided them with substantial industry statistics that directly caused an amendment to be written allowing towers to be paid for previously "no pay" services.
bullet Hosted a state-wide meeting with the N.J. Traffic Officers Association and representatives from the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles to address the problem of abandoned cars. Over 200 members and officers attended.
bullet Established industry acceptable guidelines for use by municipalities when writing towing contracts and/or ordinances.
bullet Supported and donated funding for development of the T.R.A.A. certification testing.
bullet Helped developed a Towing Standard Operating Procedure for the New Jersey State Police.
bullet Deterred the N.J. D.O.T. from purchasing state-owned tow vehicles to be used for their Emergency Service Patrol (E.S.P.) Program.
bullet Began discussions with state agencies regarding accident sight clean up and recovery reimbursement.

The GSTA's Current and Future Efforts:

bullet Has a professionally produced video explaining the importance and functions of the GSTA.
bullet Is a founding member of the Conference of North East Towing Associations (CNTA) which focuses on towing issues in the North East with the combined efforts of several state towing associations.
bullet Is a consultant and representative to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Highway Authority, and Statewide Incident Management Group.
bullet Has an advisor and consultant on DOT and other regulations through National Safety Compliance.
bullet Retains full time legal counsel with Senator Bob Martin.
bullet Is the only TRAA recognized state towing association.
bullet Has a state representative on the TRAA, Certification development committee, Motor Club advisory committee and Legislation committee.
bullet Is a member in the New Jersey Statewide Incident Management Committee which includes all the other major emergency service industries, including State Police, DOT, and Haz-Mat Teams.
bullet Is affiliated with and helped develop one of the largest tow shows in the country, The American Towman Exposition.
bullet Provides testing sites for TRAA certification.
bullet Has one of the largest number of Certified Towers in the country.
bullet We increased the amount and depth of the schools and educational programs we offer to our membership while keeping costs down.
bullet Holds monthly meetings and seminars for members.
bullet Publishes a bimonthly magazine, recognized as one of the top towing trade magazines in the industry.
bullet Provides a monthly newsletter to its membership.
bullet Offers a health insurance program in conjunction with the New Jersey Automotive Wholesalers Association.
bullet Employs a full time executive director.
bullet Continues open communication with the N.J. D.O.T. & State Police in an effort to better working relations at major incidents.
bullet Continues to be the political strength for the rights of towers in New Jersey and the source of professional information for the individual tower.