Press Room

Today, Morse bill to prevent future tow-truck fatalities to be signed into law

Tuesday, June 7 2011

Bill named for slain Colorado Springs tow-truck driver improves safety for drivers in the field

COLORADO SPRINGS— Today, Governor John Hickenlooper will come to Colorado Springs to sign Senate Bill 260, the “Allen Rose Tow-Truck Safety Act,” a bill to protect tow-truck drivers and prevent fatalities.  Senate Majority Leader John Morse (D-Colorado Springs) carried the legislation which is named after Allen Rose, a Colorado Springs tow-truck driver who was killed while performing his job. The bill was sponsored in the House by Representative Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs).

On February 23, 2011, Allen Rose was working to tow a car in Colorado Springs.  As he worked, the owner got into the car and started to drive away.  Rose’s legs were caught up in one of the tow cables and he was dragged behind the car for over a mile.  He was eventually freed, but died a short time later at the hospital.

The Allen Rose Tow-Truck Safety Act allows tow-truck operators to place a warning sign on the driver-side door before they begin to tow a vehicle to alert the vehicle’s owner that the vehicle is being towed.  The bill also makes it illegal for a person to remove this sign from the door once it has been placed there by the tow-truck operator.  Finally, the bill requires that other drivers on the road yield the right of way to stationary tow-trucks.

The idea for this legislation came from two Colorado Springs residents, Mike Baier, who had the original idea for using a warning sign, and Ron Archuleta, who suggested the provision to require passing vehicles to yield to tow- truck drivers.
           
WHAT: Gov. Hickenlooper to sign the “Allen Rose Tow-Truck Safety Act”
WHEN: Today, Tuesday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: UC-Colorado Springs
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Lot 4
Colorado Springs
Click here to download driving directions and a campus map
WHO: Governor John Hickenlooper
Senator John Morse
Representative Pete Lee
Renée Rose, widow of Allen Rose
John Connolly, President, Towing & Recovery Professionals of Colorado
Mike Baier
Ron Archuleta