DENVER—John Connolly knows what it’s like to get up at 2 a.m. and rescue a stranded motorist.
Connolly, who represents about 100 members of the Towing Recovery Professionals of Colorado, told lawmakers Wednesday that tow truck operators have dangerous jobs, noting that 34 were killed nationwide last year.
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would require tow-truck drivers to slap large stickers to drivers’ windows alerting drivers that the vehicle is being towed without their consent and barring interference. The bill also creates a new misdemeanor of assaulting a towing-truck operator trying to tow a car and requires passing drivers to give tow trucks wider berth.
The widow of a Colorado Springs tow-truck driver dragged to his death earlier this year also urged lawmakers to pass the measure.
A Senate committee voted unanimously to send Senate Bill 260 to the full Senate for debate.
Connolly said he has been threatened, punched and kicked. One time while changing a tire for a hapless motorist he was run over by another car and suffered three broken ribs and a broken leg.
Allen Rose of Colorado Springs was killed on Feb. 23 when a woman drove off while he was towing her vehicle and he became tangled.
Detra Farries, 33, faces 11 charges, including manslaughter and vehicular homicide, in the death of Rose, the 35-year-old father of two. His widow, Renee, also asked lawmakers to make it a crime to interfere.
The penalty is up to 6 months in jail, a $50 to $750 fine, or both.
Rose was preparing to tow an illegally parked SUV when the vehicle’s owner allegedly drove away. Investigators say Rose tried to chase the SUV but got tangled in a dangling tow cable and was dragged for more than a mile.
A hearing is planned Friday on her attorney’s request to reduce Farries’ $50,000 bail.
