Driver fights city for six months after car was towed – when he realized his fate, authorities admitted they were wrong

A DRIVER refused to pay for his car after the city charged him hundreds of dollars in towing fees. Then the city admitted it made a significant error in car parking.

A Chevy Express van – with a new engine, interior details and paint – was stolen from a businessman’s parking lot, triggering a half-year legal battle.

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“Changes need to be made,” the van’s driver, Donnell Wilson, told the Cleveland-based ABC affiliate. WEWS-TV in March.

“They can’t keep doing things like this.”

Police in East Cleveland have stepped up parking enforcement as lanes of abandoned cars line street parking lots, the station said.

The city said it is sending notices to drivers’ last known addresses before sending tow trucks to remove vehicles.

Owners have 10 days to move their vehicle after the letter is sent.

Wilson’s van was part of increased parking enforcement, but he said it should not have been towed.

Tow truck operators secured the vehicle when it was parked overnight in front of his small business.

So they charged him hundreds in storage fees.

“I’m not going to pay that,” he told the station.

“For what? I parked my vehicle on the opposite side of Cleveland City Council President Twon Billingson from my business and you take it away from me.”

Wilson told the television station that enforcement is hurting low-income families.

“I needed my van,” he said.

“I had that van for ten years and planned to keep it for another ten years.”

However, Wilson discovered that he will not receive his van again.

After the driver refused to pay $700 in impound fees, the city revealed it made a huge mistake with the Chevy.

Wilson’s van was mistakenly sent to the scrapyard. The city believes the van was dismantled.

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

The driver received a check for $250 for the lost vehicle, but Wilson believes it was worth more.

He wanted $2,000 for the Chevy.

East Cleveland City Council President Twon Billings said several low-income residents have fallen victim to increased towing enforcement.

Billings said he is working to open a full investigation into the towing practices and hopes to pass a bill to protect residents.

“I wouldn’t want this to be done to me, they’re going to come and my car is going to be towed and I’m going to have to pay $300, that’s ridiculous,” he told the police station.

“We’re capitalizing on people’s misery and I feel like that’s wrong, and I can’t imagine waking up and having my car taken out of my garage.”

However, Cleveland Mayor Brandon King said enforcement is important to health and safety measures in the city.

Drivers can park in streetside spaces or parking lots for up to 72 hours, in accordance with the city’s road laws.

After the three-day period, vehicles are subject to towing.