Tow trucks on Pajarito corridor must get security okay

Because of ongoing security restrictions along Pajarito Road, Security and Safeguards (S) Division and protective force personnel are now asking motorists who find themselves in need of a tow truck to notify the Central Alarm Station (CAS) in advance, or face possible delays while protective force personnel verify the tow truck operator's identity and purpose before allowing the truck to enter the Pajarito corridor. The CAS phone number is 7-4437.

"The easiest course of action a stranded motorist can take is to call the CAS and let them know a tow truck is on the way," said Scott Gibbs, acting S Division leader. "The folks at the CAS will need the motorist's name, a description and the location of the disabled vehicle and the name of the towing service that has been dispatched."

Motorists will be asked to remain with their vehicle until a protective force officer arrives to verify the call by checking the caller's badge and the description of the problem. When the towing service arrives at one of the Pajarito Road checkpoints, protective force personnel will have been advised by CAS of the situation, and following verification of the towing service's identification, will allow the tow truck to proceed.

"If a pre-notification is not made to the CAS, the whole process will be delayed," said Gibbs. "Protective force will still check the entire situation out, but the process will not begin until the tow truck arrives at the first checkpoint -- while everyone waits, including the stranded motorist."

At any time, if the tow truck driver seems suspicious, or any information does not match, protective force personnel won't allow the tow truck to proceed until all the questionable details of the incident are resolved, which would most likely require the call-out of a protective force supervisor, potentially adding to the delay, Gibbs added.

"We're not trying to keep tow trucks from entering the Pajarito corridor, " said Gibbs. "But under our current security posture, we've got to make sure that the tow trucks that do enter the roadway are there for a legitimate reason. We hope that employees with disabled vehicles will call the CAS in advance and reduce the potential for delay."

-- Kevin N. Roark

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