New White Paper Warns of Tow Truck Operators Involved in Curbstoning
Posted on Mon, Oct 24, 2011
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Stop Curbstoning has released a new article on the troubling rise in towing companies secretly conducting illicit curbstoning operations.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Oct. 24, 2011 – A growing number of people are learning how to spot and avoid a curbstoner – someone who buys low-quality cars at a deep discount, polishes them up a little bit and flips them for a profit at the expense of an unsuspecting buyer.
But StopCurbstoning.com has released a white paper on a different kind of curbstoner: rogue tow-truck operators running illicit curbstoning and chop-shop operations out of their seemingly legitimate businesses.
“This is a lesser-known form of curbstoning that we’ve had our eye on for quite some time,” said Chuck Redden, president of AutoTec, one of the companies behind the Stop Curbstoning effort. “This white paper is our way of getting the word out to buyers, sellers and, most importantly, the proper authorities that these companies are out there – and they’re taking advantage of people every day.”
The white paper, titled “A different breed of curbstoner, and yet another way cities leak revenues,” delves into every facet of this criminal enterprise, from how towing companies acquire scores of junk cars to the tactics they use to sell them off, along with all the laws they ignore along the way – and how they avoid getting caught.
Redden said he hopes this article shines a light on these illicit operations and brings about some serious legal consequences for those involved.
“We want to get the attention of the agencies that can step in and prosecute,” Redden said, “from the local municipalities to the state DMVs, even the Department of Justice.”
The article does contain some good news, as well, reporting that many states have already made progress in thwarting these underhanded businesses.
“The era of unmonitored vehicle salvage transactions appears to be on the decline,” Redden said. “But it’s far from over yet. We hope this white paper gets more people out there informed about this lingering problem and what they can do to help stop it once and for all.”
In addition to reading the article, Redden advises consumers to remain vigilant, and to always remember that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
To see the full case study, A different breed of curbstoner, and yet another way cities leak revenues or for more information about curbstoning and the effort to put an end to it, visit StopCurbstoning.com.
About Stop Curbstoning
Stop Curbstoning is a cause supported by a group of concerned corporations and organizations within the automotive industry. Its mission is to educate used car buyers, unite car dealers, and motivate municipalities to take action against this growing problem.
Stop Curbstoning was founded by AutoTec, LLC, a privately held company based in Birmingham, AL. AutoTec's flagship product, AuctionACCESS, is the automotive remarketing industry standard for managing dealer access to wholesale auto auctions.
Contact Information:
For more information, visit www.stopcurbstoning.com or contact:
AutoTec, LLC
Jordan Pittman (205) 414-2680
E-mail inquiries: jpittman@autotec.com