A couple of days ago, Anne Linehan noted a KHOU-11 report about a SAFEclear wrecker driver with convictions for drunk driving.
Today, KTRK-13’s Kevin Quinn elaborated on the criminal background of the driver (whose reckless driving killed an elderly couple):
A wrecker driver’s criminal history is under fire, and a heartbroken family is calling for change. Their parents were killed in an accident with a tow truck driver, and what we’ve uncovered about the driver’s past has even the mayor demanding answers.
That driver has a rap sheet that includes DWI arrests, drug convictions and more. It has many people asking why that tow truck driver was allowed to be on the road in the first place.
It’s the criminal history of the man driving that Safe Clear wrecker which the victim’s family finds so disturbing.
Back when the White/Stein/Berry SAFEclear scheme was first imposed on motorists and was under fire, one major complaint was that forcing motorists to accept a tow from potentially unsavory operators created safety concerns. Mayor White assured citizens that a rigorous screening program rendered such concerns moot. So, it’s not surprising that the Mayor’s press shop has responded strongly (as they tend to do after they get negative publicity). From KPRC-2:
The mayor said he wants a formal investigation into how Gonzalaz was granted a SAFEClear license even though he was a convicted felon.
“Applying the standard adopted by council, this person shouldn’t have been in the program,” White said.
The mayor said there might be many more wrecker drivers who are operating under a SAFEClear permit when they should have been denied.
“I have some information that somebody in the legal department of HPD has overruled numerous recommendations by police officers who are relying on our ordinance. If there’s a rogue city employee who is not following city law, then I want that person to be relieved of their city employment,” White said.
And from the KTRK story:
City leaders insist the background checks for Safe Clear wreckers are the most extensive in the state.
It doesn’t matter how extensive the background checks are if they’re ignored, and there’s not really any way to spin it otherwise. The Mayor is right to be concerned about the integrity of the screening process for his SAFEclear program. After all, he’s promised it’s safe.
BLOGVERSATION: Isiah Carey’s Insite.
