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 The New TARA E-Newsbreak - Re-designed for Our Members
Welcome to the all-new Texas Automotive Recyclers Association E-Newsbreak! It is our
pleasure to introduce this first edition of the TARA newsletter in an easy-to-read e-mail
format. We hope you will find the e-mail newsletter more convenient and timely than
our printed newsletter, allowing you to pinpoint specific headlines of interest and
jump directly to those related articles with just a click of the mouse. Please give us
your feedback and comments on the newsletter so that we can make this communication tool
even more effective and useful to you, our members. |
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TARA-Supported Salvage Bill Passes Legislature
78th Texas Legislative Session in Review
The 78th Legislature concluded on Monday, June 2 as lawmakers wrote a
controversial state budget, took aim at spiraling insurance rates, rewrote the rules for
lawsuits and passed hundreds of other measures.
Gov. Rick Perry called several special sessions over the summer to deal
with government reorganization and congressional redistricting. During the First Called
Special Session, only 1 House Bill out of 126 filed bills passed and was signed by the
Governor, and none of the 55 filed Senate Bills passed. During the Second Called
Special Session, none of the 51 filed House Bills or 8 filed Senate Bills passed.
Several joint and concurrent resolutions passed in both the House and Senate during both
Special Sessions. Governor Perry said he will probably call lawmakers back for a special
session sometime later this year or early next year — to rewrite the school finance
system.
TARA actively monitored legislation on the behalf of member’s interests this
session. The following legislation affecting automotive dismantlers passed during the
regular session and were signed by the Governor (click on topic for more details):
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Revised Application for Nonrepairable Vehicle
Title or Salvage Vehicle Title, Form VTR-441The Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) has revised the Application for Nonrepairable Vehicle Title or
Salvage Vehicle Title, Form VTR-441. This revised form must be completed for all
nonrepairable and salvage vehicle title requests submitted on and after September 1, 2003.
The current version of the Form VTR-441 will be accepted until August 31, 2003.
Below you will find the detailed changes made to the form.
- Added "Type of Application" to allow applicants to designate whether the
application is for a "required" or "voluntary" nonrepairable or
salvage vehicle title.
- Added "This vehicle (check one)" box and a listing of the reasons for the
application (i.e. was a total loss, etc.) as required by law.
- Revised the lien information space to allow recording liens on either a Nonrepairable
Vehicle Title or Salvage Vehicle Title.
- Added "For Your Information" and instructions to reverse side of the form (all
new information).
- Added the requirements for proof of notification by insurance companies applying without
a properly assigned title. The acceptable proof listed is identical to the proof currently
required for certified notifications of storage or mechanic’s liens.
This form is available on the TxDOT Website (www.dot.state.tx.us),
or through Fax-on-Demand (1-888-232-7033).
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New TARA Board Elected; 2003 EXPO a Success!
The TARA membership elected new directors at the 2003 membership meeting in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Congratulations to the following new directors of the TARA Board:
- District 1 Director, Cody Lindman, Dulaney Auto Parts, Plainview
- District 6 Director, Brad Williams, A-1 Auto Wrecking, Inc., Nacogdoches
- District 7 Director, Johnny Patke, Parts Locators Unlimited, Pearland
- District 9 Director, Peter Nguyn, Airline Auto Parts, Houston
- District 14 Director, Bobby Triesch, EZ Part Smart, LLC, San Antonio
The following remain on the board:
- President, Debbie Lambing
- Vice-President, Bruce Ormand
- Secretary-Treasurer, Linda Pitman
- Past President, James Cooley, Jr.
- District 2 Director, Karen Shirley
- District 3 Director, Rick Sage
- District 4 Director, Barry Rubin
- District 5 Director, Hugh Pettigrew
- District 8 Director, Kyle Wheeler
- District 10 Director, Dan Snyder
- District 11 Director, Doug Gonzalez
- District 12 Director, Carol Morton
- District 13 Director, Jannette Patke Tucker
- District 15 Director, Don Anderson, Jr.
TARA extends a huge THANK YOU to the Arkansas Automotive Dismantlers & Recyclers
Association for hosting and sponsoring the 2003 Four States Recyclers Expo in Little
Rock, Arkansas. It was an enormous success!
Mark your calendars for the 2004 Four States Recyclers
Expo, June 24-26 at the Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston, Texas.
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TxDOT Conducts State-Wide Survey of Motor Vehicle Regulators
The Enforcement Section of the Motor Vehicle Division, Texas Department of Transportation
recently conducted a state-wide survey of motor vehicle regulators in an effort to
determine where Texas stood in relation to other states’ rules, regulations and
resources. Although not a scientific study, questions were designed to detect differences
in structures that would affect the overall picture, and enough information was gathered
to show general trends. The most glaring trend indicated that Texas is the number one
state in dealer population, but has not the resources dedicated to dealer licensing and
enforcement that other large states and many of the smaller states enjoy. TARA will
feature information from the survey in this and future issues of TARA E-Newsbreak.
| Top 10 Dealer
Population |
Dealer
Population |
No. of
Investigators |
Ratio of
Licensees to Investigators |
Premises
Inspected |
Use Same
Investigators for Inspections |
| Texas |
17645 |
15 |
1176:1 |
NO |
N/A |
| New York |
17000 |
120 |
141:1 |
YES |
YES |
| California |
15500 |
58 |
267:1 |
YES |
NO - Occup Licensing Auditors |
| Ohio |
12000 |
35 |
343:1 |
YES |
YES |
| S. Carolina |
5200 |
16 |
325:1 |
YES |
YES |
| N. Carolina |
9300 |
95 |
98:1 |
YES |
YES |
| Pennsylvania |
7500 |
35 |
214:1 |
YES |
YES |
| Indiana |
7000 |
11 |
636:1 |
YES |
YES |
| Missouri |
5970 |
26 |
230:1 |
YES |
NO - Hwy Patrol |
| Tennessee |
5300 |
13 |
408:1 |
YES |
YES |
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Additional Counties Join Required Emissions Inspection
and Maintenance Program
Effective May 1, 2003, four counties around Houston and five counties in North Texas join
those counties currently requiring emissions inspection and maintenance program (I/M).Nine
additional counties will become "affected counties" or counties with an I/M
program established under the Texas Transportation Code, §548.301.
Current counties are:
- Collin
- Dallas
- Denton
- El Paso
- Harris
- Tarrant
On May 1, 2003 the following counties will be affected as well:
- Brazoria
- Ellis
- Fort Bend
- Galveston
- Kaufman
- Johnson
- Montgomery
- Parker
- Rockwall
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the test-on-resale provisions
of HB 2134, 77th Legislature, do not apply to vehicles currently registered or titled in
an affected county and subject to a retail sale.
If a vehicle is subject to a retail sale and is currently titled or registered in one
of these counties (even if the county just became an affected county), the vehicle is not
required to be emissions tested before a retail sale and subsequent title application.
If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact your local
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Regional Office.
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Fraudulent Titling of Vehicles
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has notified the Texas Department of
Transportation that they have recently learned of individuals from Croatia who are
allegedly attempting to title non-existent vehicles in various U.S. states by submitting
counterfeit Manufacturer Certificates of Origin. The counterfeit documents being presented
to titling agencies are very good quality containing fluorescent fibers, holograms,
micro-printing on the inside border (the word "Certificate" repeated) and high
resolution borders and lines within the documents that disappear when photocopied. Any
information regarding these fraudulent title transactions should be given to local law
enforcement agencies, or to NICB Special Agent Robert Arey at 321/268-9598. [return to top] |
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Loss Prevention: Avoiding Fire Losses While Servicing Gasoline Tanks
Service work on automotive gasoline tanks can result in significant property damage and
employee injury, if proper procedures and equipment are not used. Don't let the following
headlines happen to you!
"Dismantler dropped trouble light near dismantled gas tank"
Result: $60,000 in equipment and building damage incurred
"Employee siphoning gas: – Fumes ignited by pilot light from water
heater"
Result: $118,000 Building beyond repair and torn down, new autos total loss
"Spilled fuel from gas tank ignited by pilot light on water heater"
Result: $404,522 Vehicles, building and contents destroyed
The vapors given off by gasoline are highly volatile and extreme care should be used
when conducting work on gasoline tanks.
Click here for our recommended guidelines when working on
tanks:
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ARA News: ARA Spearheads Meeting with Congressional
Staff Regarding H.R. 1563
Bill Would Require Bittering Agent to be Added to Anti-Freeze and Engine Coolants
After receiving an inquiry from a member-company, ARA Government Affairs met with Rep.
Gary Ackerman’s (D-NY) staff to express concern and clarification on H.R. 1563’s
effects on the automotive recycling industry. Rep. Ackerman is the original sponsor of the
bill. Meetings were also held with the staffs of Reps. Dale Kildee (D-MI), Dana
Rohrabacher (R-CA), and David Wu (D-OR), who are cosponsors of the bill.
ARA initially expressed its view that any law mandating the addition of bittering agents
to anti-freeze and engine coolants should be done at the manufacturing level and not at
the auto recycling level for fear of additional costs and overly burdensome regulations.
By ensuring that bittering agents are added at the beginning of the manufacturing process,
the automotive recycling industry can continue to recoup and store anti-freeze and engine
coolants without inadvertently violating any laws.
"I am extremely pleased with the willingness of Rep. Ackerman’s staff, along
with the staff of the other co-sponsors of the measure, to work with us on this very
important issue,” said Bill Steinkuller, Executive Vice President of ARA.
"We agree wholeheartedly with the Members of the House that steps must be taken to
ensure that anti-freeze and engine coolants are not accidentally consumed by household
pets and young children. By working with our association, I am confident that a good
bi-partisan bill can be produced which can be supported by all involved. I am especially
thankful to Rep. Ackerman’s staff for reassuring ARA that the bill was not intended
to negatively affect the automotive recycling industry.”
The association’s efforts resulted in an offer by Rep. Ackerman’s staff to
consult with ARA in the future regarding potential changes to the language of the bill. At
the same time, Rep. Rohrabacher’s staff expressed openness to amending the bill
should it be necessary to ensure the automotive recycling industry is not subjected to
undue costs and overregulation. [return to
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Congratulations
Congratulations to Ryan Michael Patke Ives for receiving the Pearland Dugout Club
Scholarship for baseball. Ryan will be continuing his education at Southwest Texas
University, majoring in Accounting with a minor in Education. Ryan is the son of TARA
member Jannette Patke Tucker of Patkes Auto Parts Inc. and the grandson of the late Floyd
B. Patke. [return to top] |
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TARA Calendar of Events
- ARA 60th Annual Convention & Expo
October 1-4, 2003
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- 2004 Four States
Recyclers Expo
June 24-26, 2004
Moody Gardens Hotel
Galveston, Texas
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2003-2004 TARA Committee Appointments
- Membership Committee
Bobby Triesch, Chair
Craig Barker
James Cooley, Jr.
- Environmental Committee
Carol Morton
Bruce Ormand
- Nominating Committee
James Cooley, Jr., Chair
Walter Williams
Barry Rubin
- Legislative & Government Affairs Committee
Hugh Pettigrew, Jr.
Barry Rubin
Bruce Ormand
Lin Barker
- Convention & Education Committee
Jannette Patke Tucker
Rivers Lambing Carr
Karen Shirley
Linda Pitman
- Mid Year Meeting Committee
Debbie Lambing
Bruce Ormand
Linda Pitman
James Cooley, Jr.
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