Well, it's been awhile...

[friendofjimmyk]

...but I had an SC today! I thought I was immune to them now.

I had a call in for a tow on a Chevy Lumina. It was parked down a some what long driveway behind a large boat. The first person who greeted me at the end of the driveway was rather nice. He pointed to the car and informed me that was the one needing to be towed. Well, as I neared the car, I could see the sticker on the plate was green (this years colors) and I didn't see a large number (10,11,12). As I got closer, yup - the tags expired in July of this year. By law, I can't tow it. In this state, it's similar to pullilng a trailer without plates - it's illegal. I've heard its about a $500 fine. My company won't pay that because that's something for me to notice. I'd have to pay it.

I tell the nice gentleman that I can't tow it because it's not legal. He wasn't upset, but another gentleman comes walking over. The nice guy told the other guy I can't tow it and why...the following ensues:

TP: Total prick
ME: Law-abiding tow truck driver

TP: What?!?!?!
ME: I'm sorry, but as it is - it's illegal to tow this car. The plates have expired.
TP: Well, (I can see his face turning red) I'll just take the plates off this car (points to a legally registered vehicle) and then you can tow it.
ME: No, I'm sorry, I can't do that. The plates won't be valid still making it illegal to tow it.
TP: SCREW THE LAW!
ME: Sorry sir, it's a hefty fine that I don't feel like paying.
TP: Lady, you mean to tell me that you aren't going to do your job?
ME: My job includes following the law, sir.
TP: WHAT THE FUCK DO I PAY MY FUCKING MEMBERSHIP FOR?
ME: Not for us to break the law.

At this point, I start to walk away. There is no point in arguing with this guy, I'm not going to change my mind and when he started cussing at me, that's my cue to leave. Now, I am a little upset with myself for the rest of the way I handled it. For some reason, I get into moods where I have to have the last word...

As I am walking off...(the driveway is a bit long)

TP: WHAT THE HELL!?!? I have to get this FUCKING car to the repair shop.
I keep on walking.
TP: YOU NEED TO TOW THIS CAR! What the fuck do I pay my membership for?
ME: You need to register your car. (and in the sappiest, syrupiest voice I can muster up...) Have a nice day!
TP: SCREW YOU LADY!!! This is fucking bullshit. You need to tow this fucking car!

I keep walking to my truck, when I get in, I see that he has walked a bit down the driveway and is flipping me off. So, I smile really big from ear to ear and wave and at the end of my wave, I return the love and flip him off.

Now, even though he was a total prick, I should've just stated the facts and kept walking away.

[Rubystars]

That sounds like it could have gotten dangerous. I'm glad you made it out ok!

[chops]

Professional or not, I don't blame you one bit for returning the favor on him. I would have been VERY hard pressed to avoid the urge to flip him off myself.

[friendofjimmyk]

That sounds like it could have gotten dangerous. I'm glad you made it out ok!

Well, he was an older gentleman who walked with a limp. It didn't look as if he could move that fast to cause any physical harm to me. Once he started going off, the other guy kind of faded to the background.

That is one of my fears though, someone getting physically violent with me while I'm doing my job. There's been one or two situations where I was definitely fearful of my personal safety...but nothing has escalated yet. I usually keep a good distance between me and the people on location and always have a good sense of where my truck is in case I have to make a break for it and split.

[smileyeagle1021]

Well, he was an older gentleman who walked with a limp. It didn't look as if he could move that fast to cause any physical harm to me. Once he started going off, the other guy kind of faded to the background.

That is one of my fears though, someone getting physically violent with me while I'm doing my job. There's been one or two situations where I was definitely fearful of my personal safety...but nothing has escalated yet. I usually keep a good distance between me and the people on location and always have a good sense of where my truck is in case I have to make a break for it and split.

i know how you feel... i used to do parking enforcement downtown (i never did parking meters, i did the time limit lots and permit holder only lots)... and i several times had people try to hit me with their cars.

[TwoScoopsSciath]

*shudder* You are a braver woman than I, madam. My hat goes off to you!

[MadRocketScientist]

An old friend of mine who did wrecker service kept a large tire iron in a loop on his belt, if customers started getting lippy, he just rested his hand on it, or started fiddling with it. He was always firmly polite while he did so.

He said it always helped folks to remember their manners.

[Bagga]

Funny, as I was scrolling down this thread I was thinking the same thing - carry a large sized "multi-purpose" tyre iron at all times. It's not like you are carrying a knife, or a gun, expecting to deliberately hurt someone, after all...

Or maybe take an adjustable wrench, to remove wheel bolts with, in case you need to change the wheel at some point.

"But officer, I needed this tool to do my job, and when the guy came running at me I just reacted instinctively. Do you want me to pick his ear up off the floor now?"

[friendofjimmyk]

There have been quite a few times where, because of the neighborhood I was in, I put a very large wrench or hammer or something similiar in my pocket. It was awkward as hell, but I was prepared to use it if I had to. I mean, I am but a wee thing and my job does get scary sometimes. At least I don't repo cars...then I'd have to either start packin' or quit my job.

[sarahj]

I have an amusing anecdote involving tools... We live in one of the best neighborhoods around here, yes I live with my parents (how could you tell?). But a while back we'd get teens ringing our doorbell and running away. Well they did this late one night and woke my Dad up. So he picked up the nearest heavy object and waited in the front hall for them to try again. Sure enough, doorbell rang again, and Dad opens the front door and runs after them! With a hammer!!!! Another time he had a rubber mallet, and my brother grabbed some other tool and followed! And my brother recognized them and (as he told me, cos I stayed in the house) he started yelling their names! After that they seemed to remember to leave us alone.

(As a side note, let it be known that my dad and brother wouldn't ever hit these kids with the tools, they were just to scare them good.)

[friendofjimmyk]

Therein lies my conundrum. Yes, I may carry a big tool for protection at times, but will I have what it takes to use it for self-defense. I guess it would depend on the situation. I mean, I wouldn't want to pull a "Gee wiliker, gosh darn it, Mr. Criminalman, but I really don't want you to do that!" and follow it up with a reflex-test tap to the knee. I'd have to incapacitate them for sure and do I have that in me?? I guess it would depend on how fearful I am for my own life.

[Nekojin]

While I haven't yet had to put myself to the test in the "adult world," I decided not long after graduation that if it comes to a real fight, I'm not pulling any punches, because I'll know two things:

1.) I didn't start it, and
2.) The person couldn't be talked out of a reasonable solution.

That said, I'll do whatever it takes to stop someone else from harming me or my loved ones - even, if the situation absolutely requires it, killing the other guy. This resolution came after years of being abused and bullied in high school, because I wouldn't fight back. That kept up until two separate incidents where I snapped.

One was fairly private, with only my tormentor and one witness, where I lifted him off the ground by the neck, slammed him against the wall, and held him there for about a minute, until I dropped out of my rage, let go of him, and walked away.

The other was quite public, in the middle of the men's locker room. I was getting ready for class, when a punk wanna-be-bully came down my row for no other reason than to try to pick on me. He kicked me as he went by, then did the, "Yeah? What are you going to do about it?" routine. I don't really remember the fight, but I've been told that I kicked the living shit out of him. I DO remember kicking him in the face when he ducked a punch...
Nobody else lifted a finger to stop the fight. I'm fairly certain that the gym coach got a good view of the fight from the gym office, too. That took place near the end of my Junior year in high school.

After the second incident, I was only bullied one other time, during my senior year.

I've had two tense situations that could have resulted in a fight since then, but both of the other guys were intent on provoking me into throwing the first punch, so nothing ever came of either one.

I'm much more comfortable in my own body now than I was 18 years ago, as a teenager. I'm quite content in the knowledge that it takes a lot to push me to physical violence - and just as content in knowing that I am capable of turning on the berserker in me when it's absolutely necessary.

Fortunately, civilization rarely forces those situations.