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Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Getting Pulled Over in Tyler Texas– Again!

April 15th, 2011

            Motorcycle patrol officers in Tyler have a dubious reputation when it comes to how zealously they uphold the law. In all honesty I have not exactly helped to smooth things over in the past. As a general rule anytime I get stopped, it’s by a motorcycle officer, and I always get the ticket. But to be fair I recently met with an officer who broke with the stereotype.

            I’ve been driving on expired tags (and inspection stickers) since… well last summer. I know I need to update them, but there are so any other places I can put seventy- five dollars besides giving it to the government. At any rate I’ve been very conscientious of my driving and my routes over the last ten months, knowing I would probably take it on the chin should I encounter a blue and white Harley; until recently. A long night with a sick child made it necessary for me to alter my routine the following morning. Rather than taking my normal route to work, I was forced to take one I knew to be fraught with danger. The area through which I was passing was ideal ground for speed traps and school zone violations, but I proceeded watchfully. Not watchfully enough as it turns out, because as I came around a bend, there he was, and he couldn’t miss my stickers. As his lights burst on, I pulled into a nearby parking lot. The officer approached my vehicle and asked (surprisingly amiably) to see my license and registration, which I produced. As I was looking for my insurance card he informed me that my license had expired! I was aghast. This was in fact a genuine surprise to me.

            So let’s review, of the, really four items I was expected to produce for the officer, I really only had one, my proof of insurance. I suspect by the way that this is really the main item with which he was concerned. At this point in the meeting I was about ready to shrink and hide under my seat. My little boy sat in the back seat endlessly fascinated by the proceedings. Not only did he get to converse with a police officer, but a police officer on a motorcycle! Funny how our reactions can run in diametrically opposed directions. But maybe it was my son’s interest that moved the officer’s heart to mercy. Rather than giving me a huge ticket (or tickets), for a laundry list of my infractions, me gave me the usual span of time to pay my fees and correct my violations. Obviously I won’t use his name and risk ruining his fearsome reputation, but thanks for not being a stickler and for making getting around this town a bit less of a headache!                True, Tylerites are often annoyed by the rigid demeanor of some of its finest. But it’s good to know that at least some of them don’t take themselves too seriously!           

The Tire Barn

November 27th, 2009

In all my years living in Tyler, I have never once been disappointed with the service and professionalism at The Tire Barn.

Today, many automotive businesses rely on gimmicks to draw in customers. The Tire Barn never bothered with gimmicks. They just offer excellent work and terrific customer service.

A few years back, I pulled over by the Canton Police and given two tickets for not having my registration or inspection stickers. This was a problem, because it was my friend’s car, and she wasn’t going to be in Texas for another two months. As the deadline for her registration (and my subsequent ticket dismissal) drew near, I could not pass the state inspection because her car’s tires were too bald, and I was not financially able to buy her a new set of tires.[ad#large-blog-block]

So I did what I always did when I had tire issues: I went to the Tire Barn on Spur 364 behind the Kelly Tires plant, and a short hop west of Lindsey Park. I would have taken the car there in the first place if I had known they do state inspections. I explained my dilemma and they went out back and began rummaging through some older tires. Five minutes later, they came back with tires in hand. In ten minutes, I was pulling out of Tire Barn with two new old tires, and a wallet that was breathing a sigh of relief. I passed inspection, and my tickets were dismissed.

But the thing I love most about The Tire Barn is how they treated my wife whenever she was there. As a husband, I am aware of how mechanics can try to bilk unsuspecting women into making unnecessary repairs, or finding inexplicable reasons to add to the final bill. But the good folks at Tire Barn were always respectful, professional and kind. They always helped her make the most cost-effective decisions.

The Tire Barn offers a variety of services: Wheel Alignment, Disc Brake Service, Shocks and Struts, Tire Rotation, and Wheel Balance. They are open Weekdays from 7:30 to 5:00, and Saturday from 8 to Noon. They specialize in Goodyear and Dunlap Tires, and they accept all major credit cards. If you have any tire needs at all, come see them at the corner of 13687 FM 206 and SPUR 364. You will not be disappointed by their expertise and customer support.