STATE lawmakers are working on a bill that would require towing and boot companies to work under stricter limits to stop bills from ballooning.
The Wild West that towing has become in the Southeast may be coming to an abrupt end with a restrictive law against tow trucks.
3
3
3
After multiple complaints from drivers about boot crews and towing companies overcharging for their services became rife across North Carolina, state lawmakers decided it was time to act.
Laura Budd, a state representative and the bill’s main sponsor, said there are stricter regulations for becoming a barber.
“You have to have more training and certification to be a barber in the state of North Carolina than a tow truck driver,” she told the ABC affiliate. WSOC-TV.
“Stop for a second and think about this piece.”
Kyrah Radney’s boot incident would be the type of scenario the bill would stop.
She parked her car in what she considered a safe parking space – but returned to find two parking boots protecting her vehicle.
The startup team said it was “lucky” to be charging $250.
“He said, ‘It’ll be $250, but we’re saving you a deal because if we towed you it would cost $350,'” she recalled.
“I’m wondering how they came up with the prices.”
Rather than argue about the price, she reluctantly paid the hefty bill, but couldn’t stop thinking about other drivers who wouldn’t have been able to hit that mark.
“I’m grateful I paid this, but I know a lot of people wouldn’t have had $250 on hand to get their boots out of their cars,” she said.
The new law would require startup and towing teams to provide governing agencies with more information about their towing work to ensure everything has a paper trail.
Information such as the exact location of the trailer, where it was towed or started, vehicle make and model, and exact rates.
The name of the person who authorized the tow or boot must be recorded, along with the reason for the tow.
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
A license would need to be renewed annually, which means an application and assessment of the company would be made.
Clear signage about parking rules would be required, and towing companies would not be allowed to tow a vehicle more than 25 miles.
Most importantly, Budd noted that an important part of the bill would include a maximum rate for different types of towing work.
State lawmakers will meet to discuss the bill soon and, if approved, it will take effect on December 1.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
