A BUSINESSWOMAN has issued an urgent warning to motorists after noticing dozens of cars being towed when left overnight.
Comedian Joy watched countless vehicles get towed for months in downtown Birmingham, Alabama.
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She has since added pickup services to her dining venture in a generous offer to help drivers avoid being towed.
Founder of Birmingham Eat Drink Ride, Joy started her food tourism business in 2017 after presenting the television show Dining Out With Comedienne Joy.
The venture takes pedestrians around Birmingham on a party bus, making several stops at popular Alabama restaurants.
But that’s not all companies are doing lately.
Joy saw several people towing their cars after fun nights out and was motivated to do something about it.
“I know people want to meet up with friends but are afraid their cars will be towed,” said Joy Birmingham news.
“And no one or company is safe.”
That’s where the local businessman’s speedster van comes in.
Posting an ad on social media, Joy advertised its pickup services for groups of 13 people or less.
She told the outlet that the van would pick up passengers at any location of their choosing, drop them off, and wait outside until they were ready to leave.
She is charging $100 per hour on weekdays and $150 per hour on weekends, with a three-hour minimum, The Birmingham News reported.
When split between 13 people, a night out can cost between $23 and $35 per person for the first three hours.
Joy is trying to solve a problem that has existed for decades, according to The Birmingham News, which reported that city drivers have accused downtown company Parking Enforcement Systems (PES) of predatory towing for more than a decade.
“My heart hurts when I read about the horrible stories on social media,” she told the outlet.
“[On] I have seen several times how quickly tow trucks snatch cars away. A guy was running after his car. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
Despite updates to the city’s towing law last September, the problem persists.
What to do if your car is towed
Unfairly or not, recovering a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are some steps you can take to get it back.
Steps to follow when your car is towed:
- Try to find out why your car was towed. Haven’t you seen a “No Parking” sign? Did you miss your car payment? Have you returned to a lot where there were unpaid citations? Finding the reason may narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities or counties require towing companies to leave some type of contact information via a posted or mailed sign.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but these times will be posted on the website or may be provided by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as quick as possible, as some towing yards may charge per-day storage fees.
If you believe your vehicle was improperly towed, you can dispute the action by following these steps:
- Be quick – many states have a small window of time in which it is acceptable to file a claim against a company that improperly towed your vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements, if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws, as laws for towing companies vary by state.
- Try talking to the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact your local Justice of the Peace as they may have more information or resources to help. They are often used for towing cases.
- Speak to a lawyer. Many lawyers offer free consultations and, depending on the case, it may be worth calling on a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak law firm
Pending improvements, many have expressed interest in the service, with more than 100 people commenting on Joy’s announcement in the What’s Happening in Mountain Brook Facebook group, The Birmingham News reported.
US Sun reached out with a request to speak with comedian Joy.
TOWING ISSUES
The US Sun has previously covered towing issues, including the story of a woman lured into a parking lot and towed despite paying for parking.
With $300, the woman fell victim to a common parking scam circulating throughout California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Meanwhile, a renter’s car was towed after the vehicle’s tire went flat despite being legally parked for 10 days.
Some property management companies consider vehicles with flat tires inoperable.
Depending on the situation, a vehicle may be fined or towed for not being legal on the roads.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
