Tugs towing Shell drill ship to Dutch Harbor

A Royal Dutch Shell PLC drill barge that ran aground New Year Eve is on the move from near Kodiak Island in Alaska to Dutch Harbor.

Shell spokesman Curtis Smith says in an email to the related Press that the Kulluk left the bay Tuesday afternoon. Three tugs are towing the barge in a journey projected to take about ten days.

The Kulluk drilled in the Beaufort Sea last year and was being towed to Seattle when it broke loose from its towing ship. The round drilling barge ran aground New Year Eve.

It was reflated and towed to the protected bay, but the Coast Guard had planned it to remain anchored until its condition was assessed. The Coast Guard lifted its control last week.

Smith says once the Kulluk reaches Dutch Harbor it will be placed aboard a larger vessel for a dry tow to shipyard in Asia.

Haul of shame? State maybe curbs predatory towing

Provo Mayor John Curtis, concerned about stories he had heard of greedy towing, recently asked on his blog for example of unreasonable practice by tow-truck companies that he could take to the City Council.

That was on a Monday at 7 a.m. By Tuesday at 3 p.m., when the board meeting began, he had 700 nightmarish yarns about predatory tow-truck operators.

Then Curtis sister-in-law, former state Rep. Trisha Beck, complained last week to Sandy City after a guest at a dinner party she was hosting couldn’t drive up steep, snow packed 9000 south, level with assistance from a police officer. So she left her car in a store parking lot and had her son take her to the party.

The car was towed, and she had to split over cash to get it back, level though the no-parking signs were covered with snow and the lot was nearly empty on a Sunday night. We have tried to discuss with businesses and have gotten them to post more and larger signs so people know of parking limits, said Sandy spokeswoman Nicole Martin. But as private property, our hands are tied.

Curtis said the problem stems from the high fines that Tow-Truck Companies can levy against drivers who park in no-parking areas in private lots. The state, whose laws are tilted in help of property owners and tow-truck operators, allows a $145 charge for the tow, plus gas and other operating expense. That as a rule puts it over $200, said Curtis, when a parking ticket on a city street will cost only $15 to $20. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime.

Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem, is preparing a bill that would let cities start the minimum tow charge instead of the state. Curtis, who is working with Stratton on the measure, says cities would be disposed to set much lower fees. Stratton bill also would give city the leeway to set ordinance on the number and size of no-parking signs in parking lots, establish a car owner bill of rights, provide for alternating means of payment besides cash and spell out a minimum amount of time a car can be parked before it is towed.

San Antonio towing fees to increase 108 percent

In a small more than a week, if you get towed, what you pay to get your car may be a lot higher than you are used to dishing out.

On Thursday, the city council approved new costs for towing, which is more than double the present rate. The reason it outrageous is because it is such a huge jump, said Melissa Marquez, who had to pick up her husband on Thursday after he was complicated in an accident and had to get his truck towed.

Marquez said while they have insurance to pay for repairs and for their truck to get towed, they are a little alarmed about the new cost of towing in the city. If we had not had insurance, I do not know if we would be able to afford that set back, said Marquez. I'm sure every person is on tight finances and so are we.

The new rule increases the fee from $85 to $177, which is an increase of 108 %. However, city officials said the now tow rate fee has not changed since 2002. With rise and the cost of fuel, the city’s public safety committee recommended raising the fee.

I think that the fee is too steep, said Mark Araya, who had his car towed a few years ago. And, they have to do something about it the new towing fees go into result February 10. Araya said he's not taking any chances and will be keeping a close eye on parking signs.