5/25/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Many misuses of "the program" aren't accounted for. Many store clerks or security personnel will call in for customers sometimes without even checking with them. this creates expense for either or all of the drivers trying to locate someone who was just helped by the other. This is a big frustration with my drivers as well I'm sure with the volunteers. Dispatch should speak to the car owner/operator directly. I'll hear "Oh, AAA said on hour, I didn't expect you so soon so I also called the sheriffs department." I'll tell them, no sir or mam they say up to an hour. But everyone expects the worst. Many of the calls we receive, the member has already been waiting an hour or so for the sheriffs department before they call AAA. Then we're at a disadvantage. When we arrive, if the volunteer beats us to the vehicle we end up driving around wasting time and gas. Another big expense is "convenience callers". You know : She doesn't want to tell her husband, he doesn't want his dad to drive over with keys and lecture or she doesn't want to wait at the mall for an hour for her mom to get off work Without tying up dispatch for long periods, the only way is to only do it for emergencies situations. The sheriffs department already instituted a policy asking callers if they have any motorclubs. But they don't do it when dispatch gets busy or when they are training new dispatchers (which happened earlier this year). More people are covered then realize. AAA has over 10,000 members registered in Indian River County. AAA, Allstate, road America and Cross Country, insurance programs, new car warranty (3yrs or 36,000 miles). Even cellular companies offer road service with service contracts. But to keep these 24 hour road side assistance programs functioning, there has to be a 24 hour company that will do them locally. Which means, since they pay less per call, there has to be a high volume of calls to keep the personnel available to the public. And there will not be a 24 hour 365 day a year locksmith available if this trend continues and the volunteers are not available 24 hours a day. I've managed to keep it together for 3 years, but on off season I lose my help. I don't think one person can stay open 24 hours alone forever. Each year I ask the same question to the sheriff, "Are you going to stop the program. I feel I've proved my resolve in keeping this county serviced. I keep getting, "Not Yet". In addition, dispatch does not inform callers that they will be required to sign a waiver saying the sheriffs dept will not be held liable for any damages done the vehicle. When the volunteer arrives on the scene, the person is asked to sign the waiver which will not hold up in court (which most people don't know). I don't believe this is acceptable or should be tolerated. In Florida you are not able to sign away the right to compensation for damages done to your car. As Brevard Co. found out when they paid out over $4,000 for shorting out the electric system of a new leased Jaguar several years ago. County insurance will not cover these damages. Now they no longer open vehicles. I do believe that as a county we are among the last if not the last to learn this hard lesson. I hope we can learn from their mistakes instead of our own. I've heard alot about the last time "the program" was suspended and we tried a rotation with locksmiths. How it failed and why. Two reasons were given to my by the sheriffs department. One was the locksmiths were not reliable.. the other was that the prices were too high. If you call a plumber or electrician at 2 am you see their rates are comparable. Also during that period of time there wasn't a locksmith company doing emergency road side service for the motor clubs. When free enterprise is in effect for a period of time, you will notice prices reduce and service will increase. Also I've heard many people tell me they have waited hours for the sheriffs dept and in some cases they never came. There is another problem you might look into with your insurance company. A couple of years ago there was a rumor circulated by the law enforcement community that a police officer died while trying to open a car with a side impact airbag. It deployed and the tool shot into his brain. I was not able to substantiate this through any agency that I contacted. but it is very possible for someone who isn't trained properly to deploy or destroy the airbag. So theoretically, are you covered for the death of an officer or someone critically injured when in an accident and the airbag doesn't go oft? when it's investigated they find out a car opening was the cause, I imagine the county will pay. MAY 25s 1999 36