My car was towed without warning and fined $1,700 – there were no parking signs, but experts say I’m still to blame

A DRIVER said he received no warning after his car was towed and racked up $1700 in fines – lawyers said the driver is still on the hook for the money even though there were no street signs.

The driver was looking for help with his parking problems, but the expert told the driver his excuse was “pure nonsense”.

After receiving the gigantic parking fine, the driver turned to lawyers in Avvoa website that provides information about lawyers and legal services.

The driver said the tow disrupted his standard parking routine.

“I always leave my car parked on the street,” the owner said in the public post.

“It’s been fine for weeks.”

However, the driver said the car’s tags and registration had expired.

Still, they didn’t think the city gave them adequate warning before removing the vehicle from the street.

“I keep an eye online where you track tickets and tows,” the driver said.

“[The online portal] It hasn’t been updated so I wasn’t told it was towed. Nobody called, sent a letter or anything.”

Instead, the driver said his car had been reported stolen by police.

After the tow and subsequent storage fee, the car racked up $1,700 in fines.

“I think it was negligence,” said the driver before asking if they had the right to sue the broadcaster.

However, two lawyers intervened to say that the driver does not have much reason to defend himself in court.

“This seems [like] a legal trailer,” a lawyer suggested.

“In addition to emailed notices from the DMV and your own registration and insurance card, it is difficult to get an exhausted registration. And you seemed to know the car was towed and not stolen.”

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 lawyer also said that municipal legislation prohibits drivers from parking their car in the same place for more than seven days.

The first lawyers suggested that the driver pay and collect the car before the tow “costs even more.”

Another lawyer intervened with equally harsh language.

“Claiming that you didn’t know your registration was expired is pure nonsense; you are responsible for your car,” said the second lawyer.

“There’s really no excuse not to renew your registration.”