I've been cruising the Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation web site taking a look at what the requirements are for being a licensed tow truck driver.

This is what I've found.

Tow truck operators need to choose only one designation.

The Incident Management License allows a driver to perform incident management towing, private property towing and consent towing.

The Private Property License allows private property towing and consent towing. The Consent Towing License only authorizes consent towing.

Please note that IM and PP Towing Operators are required to be certified by the National Drivers Certification Program of the Towing and Recovery Association of America or another certification program approved by the department BEFORE they are eligible for an IM or PP license.

To view a list of approved certification programs go to www.license.state.tx.us/towing/towing.htm#certification.

Who's willing to bet me that none of those guys is licensed?

Here's my offer. I am willing to go where they park and ask to see the licenses. I'm not sure if they are obligated to show me, but if they won't, they I will threaten to call a policeman friend of mine and if they don't mind him checking all of the other crap they have going on, then they have nothing to worry about.

I need someone to stay behind me and film it as I confront them. I am a pretty big dude and for the most part, I am really laid back. It takes a lot more to make me mad than it used to, but I can guarantee you, they won't be intimidating me.

This problem doesn't stop until someone does something about it.

Everyone makes mistakes and this particular mistake is extremely expensive and it just doesn't need to be.

Just to make it as fair as I possibly can, I will send Humble Towing a letter letting them know exactly what I intend to do. That's a hell of a lot more effort than they are putting out to be fair with the citizens of Kingwood. 

Or people that are allowed to use park put stickers on their cars. 

Hey...you'll get no argument with me about that.

Let's find a different way to police it. 

Let's find a different way to police it.

the proper way to do that is to be active in the KSA or HOA (whatever it is) meetings to express yourself.

going around demanding licenses without being any figure that has the right to do so cannot end up well.

these guys are doing a job they were hired to do. they have nothing to do with the KSA's choice of how to police the area. 

Let's find a different way to police it.

I disagree, rules are posted, no sticker, you will be towed. someone comes without a sticker, they get towed. whether or not they have kids, or special circumstances is no ones problem but their own. Rules are posted. 

Again...you obviously have never dealt with one. They are all a bunch of power hungry goosesteppers who would rather win the argument and cement their authority than find a better, different way to operate.

I'm not going to waste my time with them. I can get better, quicker results this way.

If KSA is going to insist on beating the citizens of Kingwood over the head with their rules, then I intend to beat the tow truck drivers over the head with their rules. 

then I intend to beat the tow truck drivers over the head with their rules.

good luck.

whats wrong with them towing people? no sticker, get towed... why are you so against this? 

If KSA is going to insist on beating the citizens of Kingwood over the head with their rules, then I intend to beat the tow truck drivers over the head with their rules.

i am just guessing here...you have no right to ask them to show their certifications or licenses. they may not be required by law to actually have them in their possession. your "police officer friend" would be in violation of some law if he forced them to show you anything without cause to do so. you saying you want to see it should not be cause for him to make them show it.

if i were one of them, and you tried this on me, i would refuse, then refuse again when the officer attempted to make me show it, then call the police dept and report this officer.

again, what if they are not required to actually carry this certification or particular license?

Who's willing to bet me that none of those guys is licensed?

what makes you think they are not licensed? they do it for a living, why wouldn't they be licensed? 

Who's willing to bet me that none of those guys is licensed?


I'll take that bet...what's the wager? 

JW...I respect your opinion.

You and I have a difference of opinion and I am not going to waste a lot of time trying to change your mind.

I will say this though. If the tow truck drivers were compelled to check the drivers license of the driver before towing, then they could determine who belongs and who doesn't.

If the offender has a KW address, then they should get a warning and be sent on their way. This shouldn't be hard due to the fact the these tow trucks are waiting outside of the boat docks already.

The drivers turn in their list weekly to the KSA and the KSA can send out a warning letting these folks know that if they are caught down there again, they will be towed. Records can be kept and checked with each incident.

That is a more civilized way to treat the folks of this community. 

If KSA is going to insist on beating the citizens of Kingwood over the head with their rules, then I intend to beat the tow truck drivers over the head with their rules.

Why don't you stand at the park entrance with a sign and warn people that they may be towed if they do not have the proper sticker? That might be just as effective. It seems the tow truck drivers are doing what they have been asked to do.

I understand that some people are eligible to use the park and unfortunately did not read or understand the various signs. Maybe we need better signs with better warnings.

But I also know that the parks are being used by people that are not entitled to be there. I am not a scrooge, but if someone lives in a village that decided to not participate in KSA they need to work within their HOA to hold them accountable for that.

I also realize that it has been inconvenient for some people to get the documentation and find time to get the proper stickers.

I would be happy if more villages paid into KSA, then maybe my portion would be smaller..however, I am not in favor of people being able to arbitrarily bypass paying for something and using it anyway...while I pay my fair share whether I use it or not. 

I will say this though. If the tow truck drivers were compelled to check the drivers license of the driver before towing, then they could determine who belongs and who doesn't.

That will not tell them if they are current on their fees. 

If the offender has a KW address, then they should get a warning and be sent on their way. This shouldn't be hard due to the fact the these tow trucks are waiting outside of the boat docks already.


Not all Kingwood addresses are eligible to get a sticker..only those whose village is part of KSA and pays the assessments. Other villages have opted out..hence the problem. 

I would be more than happy to help with a way to bring a good compromise to this NEW K sticker issue.
I don't think confronting the tow company is it IMO.
The issue is with the HOA, not the tow company.

However, I have read some stories of how they remove stickers and tow, so catching that on video would be the ticket! 

I will say this though. If the tow truck drivers were compelled to check the drivers license of the driver before towing, then they could determine who belongs and who doesn't.

Why do you want the towing company to do the work of the KSA employees?

I get your wrath tinman, just think your anger is misdirected. Sounds like your bone is with KSA for not posting adequate signage. 

However, I have read some stories of how they remove stickers and tow


Also, if a sticker was removed, why would everyone assume it is the tow company doing this and NOT other patrons who want to steal it for themselves? 

Not all Kingwood addresses are eligible to get a sticker..only those whose village is part of KSA and pays the assessments. Other villages have opted out..hence the problem.

Ghostpost...great point. But, if it turns out that they are not eligible to be there in the first place, then an honest mistake is not going to cost them $250.00. They won't be able to get a sticker and they won't ever be back. And before you say it, sometimes these things are an honest mistake.

AWM...maybe you're right. I can take a big a$$ swing at a towing company. They set themselves up for it. It's a lot harder to do that with the HOA and with KSA. Been there, done that, got the black eye and body bruises to prove it.

I gotta go. I'm over due for my chill pill. 

If the tow truck drivers were compelled to check the drivers license of the driver before towing, then they could determine who belongs and who doesn't.


The rules plainly state, do not have a sticker, get towed. makes it easy, no sticker, get towed, no need to hunt down the driver of the vehicle, wherever they may be and check DL.
No sticker get towed, it is pretty simple.

If the offender has a KW address, then they should get a warning and be sent on their way.

The warning is ALREADY at the park in the form of the RULES that are posted.

Why are you so against this? not asking you to change my mind, I am asking you to explain why you think the rule of no sticker, get towed, is not a good rule.

That is a more civilized way to treat the folks of this community.


OR the folks of this community could follow the rules AS POSTED and have a current KW sticker OR get TOWED.

Why is this such a hard concept?



Maybe we need better signs with better warnings.

Really?
"No current KW sticker will result in vehicle being towed" is to much for people to understand?

I also realize that it has been inconvenient for some people to get the documentation and find time to get the proper stickers.

So they should be able to blame the tow companies for that? That is their own fault. live by the actions you take and the decisions you make, if you do not have a current sticker, stay out of the park. 

But, if it turns out that they are not eligible to be there in the first place, then an honest mistake is not going to cost them $250.00.

It's not an honest mistake, it is them failing to obey the RULES. Right when they pull into the park is the sign, 'no sticker, vehicle will get towed'

Why is this so difficult? 

I will say this though. If the tow truck drivers were compelled to check the drivers license of the driver before towing, then they could determine who belongs and who doesn't.

so the tow truck driver asks the person for their license, which btw you are not required to provide unless it is an officer, but that being said...the person is not from kingwood, what next? do you think the person is likely to allow the tow truck driver to tow their vehicle? really? tow truck drivers have no authority whatsoever to ask for nor review tdl's. if a tow truck driver asked me for my license, i would say no.

the rest of your post just adds costs on to the expense the KSa has to pay the tow company.

newspaper stories, signage, letters, (KU)...what more do you want, a personalized visit? 

So they should be able to blame the tow companies for that? That is their own fault. live by the actions you take and the decisions you make, if you do not have a current sticker, stay out of the park.

No, not at all...I was just acknowledging the fact, lol.

I have been reading and hearing about this new sticker since last January...at least. It is hard for me to imagine not being aware of it.

How many things are communicated through neighborhood signs, newsletters, and forums all the time? Staying informed is easier now than it has ever been in my lifetime. I am having a hard time being sympathetic to the outrage. In fact, I am glad they are enforcing it. 

No, not at all...I was just acknowledging the fact, lol.

Oh yes i know, just addressing that point for others

no worries

very bottom line, as you enter the park, there are signs everywhere about the sticker situation and the penalty.
as for me, i park there all the time, no sticker, don't get towed either, i park near the entrance, not the boat ramp. but i would not cry if i did get towed, i know the rules, i choose to ignore them. 

I actually just called the HOA. They said the park is private property and as such, a protion of our fees comes out to maintain it.
They changed the stickers in order to keep ample parking for the residents as it was getting swamped by out of towners.
As far as letting people know, they said each individual sub division made the decision to send a letter or not.

If your sub division didn't it was because there wasn't enough funds to do so.

I asked why the signage couldnt be clearer, with perhaps a pic of the OLD K sticker stating NO LONGER IN USE....as the signs just say get your new K sticker here...and a person with a K sticker would assume it didnt apply to them.
She said that was a good point, and would sugest it to the board.

I aslo asked about if we have guest, how can we have them meet us at the park, and she said we have to car pool, we are allowed guests, but they are NOT allowed to park in the parks. Period.

She aslo said anyone in doubt, should call the HOA, the number is there. I said, when I go to a park, I dont call the number to make sure I am abiding by all the rules before I enter, and not many people think that way.
They figure if they live in Kingwood, and have a K sticker, albeit an old one, they are ok.

I also said I read the K sticker changes on a local blog site, and she said never read those blogs, they are garbage! lol 

How are they handling all those people who park there for soccer games?

See, I know the answer to that. They aren't enforcing the rule.

They need to be consistent. 

Those who voted to be annexed made a big mistake, in my book. Everyone in KW is getting "screwed " from the results. What real benefits have residents gotten? Now there are more complaints than positives. It's no wonder that Atascocita doesn't want annexed. 

Those who voted to be annexed made a big mistake, in my book. Now everyone in KW is getting "screwed."

This doesn't have anything to do with annexation. It is about some people paying into KSA and some people not. 

Well let me think about it......nope. 

This doesn't have anything to do with annexation. It is about some people paying into KSA and some people not.

And I don't think we voted for annexation either. Houston just stole us. 

Who's willing to bet me that none of those guys is licensed?


I'll take that bet...what's the wager?


I say again.........I would be happy to engage in a binding wager with you, please list the terms for me to decide upon, thank you very much, and good day... 

What happens to the out of town soccer teams that have games at the park? I know there is not enough parking in the soccer parking lots and sometimes they have to park in other areas of the park. What about families that want to invite out of town friends/family to the park but can't all fit into one car? Just seems like there could be some valid exceptions as to why a car might be parked there without a K sticker. 

"K" stickers for sale!

$2 ea.

Sale starts tomorrow... 

Signs are pretty obvious IMO, If you got your sticker before Jan 1 2011, you need another one.



The new K stickers, the 'K' is a lot thinner and written in a more swooping style, with numbers underneath it. 

Peeps without a sticker can always pay 5 bucks and launch off hamblen road. 

"K" stickers for sale!

$2 ea.

Sale starts tomorrow...

But are they the new ones or the old ones? :) 

OK. I'll bite. This is Stefanie Thomas, Observer, aka baroness. I'm already working on a story about Kingwood Place residents having trouble getting their K-stickers, so this is a good opportunity to comment on the whole system. Send comments for publication to sthomas@hcnonline.com please. Feel free to share your own experiences, your concerns, or simply your opinion. Please include your name (we usually don't publish unsigned letters) and where you're from (Kingwood, village, or if you're an outsider, what part of town.) The story I'm working on has a Friday noon deadline. Please submit any comments/thoughts/ideas prior to that deadline. The sooner the better because I'm waiting for a phone call from KSA anyway and may be able to get some answers to your question. Thanks! 

Signs are pretty obvious IMO, If you got your sticker before Jan 1 2011, you need anothe

Yeah, I agree..that is pretty clear., IMO. I had no idea what the signs looked like, but I agree, that makes it obvious that you need to get the "new" sticker. 

"K" stickers for sale!

$2 ea.

Sale starts tomorrow...

But are they the new ones or the old ones? :) 


New ones, perfect replicas...on sale tomorrow 

Tinman, instead of asking for the license and certification, ask the guy to see his authority given by KSA as the enforcer, as to who gets towed and who doesnt. What rules is he required to go by, as a representative of KSA? He's a tow truck driver, not private property law enforcement.
I would imagine that HPD cruises by every once in a while just as a precaution so mr tow truck driver doesn't get manhandled.
"you toucha my truck, I breaka you face!" 

The sign is pretty clear.

So again I ask, why isn't the rule universally applied?

It should either be enforced for ALL or none.

They should have a special boat ramp sticker and get rid of the requirement for a general sticker. It would save money, hassle and wouldn't be ambiguous as it is now.