Hawk’s online-shamed into changing cash only policy

TRENTON>> Will that be cash or credit?

Thanks to Jerell Blakeley’s streaming shenanigans, Hawk’s Recovery & Towing abolished it’s cash-only police.

The at-large councilman, dressed down for the occasion, showed up on a random Saturday this month to confirmthe towing business’ policy of only accepting cash for police-authorized tows.

The undercover sting didn’t last long before wannabe-Sheriff Blakeley identified himself as a councilman, sans the badge and gun.

The city clerk Dwayne Harris sent towing owner Brian Hawkins a cease-and-desist letter saying the cashonly policy violated the state Predatory Towing Prevention Act.

Hawkins’ lawyer, Brett Wiltsey, responded to the clerk’s letter Aug. 23 saying, “Moving forward, Hawks’ will accept valid major credit cards, debit cards and charge cards in connection with the towing and storage of police impounded vehicles” as long as customers provide identification.

The cash-only policy had been in place for years – implemented after Hawkins said people called their financial institutions and disputed or canceled charges after leaving his business.

Wiltsey went on to say his client wasn’t pleased with Blakeley’s antics. After getting complaints from constituents, Blakeley showed up in his gym gear and Facebook live-streamed his interactions with Hawkins’ workers. One of the workers told him he didn’t want to be on camera.

“In the future, Hawk’s requests for matters such as this to be resolved professionally rather than through a stunt streamed live over the internet with the intention to embarrass,” Wiltsey wrote.

Blakeley made no apologies for his approach.

“All I wanted was for Hawk’s to do the right thing and follow the law,” he said Tuesday. “They can question my tactics every day of the week, and twice on Sunday, but they can’t question my results. It didn’t take someone with a law degree to realize they were breaking the law. I am glad that they are following the law.”

Blakeley plans to introduce a towing ordinance, inspired by Hawk’s policy, in the coming weeks.

“It’s never good when a business flagrantly highlights with a sign that the laws of the state of New Jersey don’t apply to them,” the councilman said. I’m sure they’re a little salty, but they’ll get over it.”

TRENTONIAN FILE PHOTO Brian Hawkins, of Hawk’s Towing, speaks at the Trenton city council meeting this month to voice his displeasure for the city’s tax increases.

TRENTONIAN FILE PHOTO Trenton Councilman Jerell Blakeley speaks at a press conference called Thursday to discuss the Princetel deal that seems to have fallen through. Blakeley broke ranks with the council’s majority in speaking out against the body’s actions voting to not put the deal on the agenda.