DRIVERS have complained to city lawmakers about predatory towing practices, prompting two new bills to combat them.
Now lawmakers are working on laws that would give them the necessary authority.
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North Carolina drivers in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Wilson and Carrboro were terrorized by towing companies that ripped up cars and overcharged drivers to recover them.
They were also accused of failing to post adequate signage in the lots they patrol and failing to establish local laws regarding wait times before towing.
One driver told the story of a towing company charging him extra for not using cash.
“They charged me an extra $100 on my credit card, which is the part that really upsets me,” an anonymous woman told the NBC affiliate. WRAL.
Read more about towing laws
“The towing company has you by the throat and you just have to pay whatever they want to charge.”
In North Carolina, laws imposed on towing companies designed to hold them accountable only apply to some cities in the state, leaving locals without jurisdiction to go after the companies.
Durham parking inspector Andrew Wilkinson says it’s something he regrets having to tell his clients.
“It’s never an easy conversation to tell someone, ‘Hey, I just don’t have the power to intervene in this matter,'” he said.
Josh Stein, the state’s attorney general, said conversations like this could be ending for local officials.
“I believe our laws can and should be strengthened,” Stein said.
“We don’t give local governments enough power to regulate this industry.”
To address the predatory nature of a select few towing companies, two bills have been proposed to state legislators.
The first would establish a commission for towing companies in the state, making it mandatory to obtain a license and establishing fees and standards that towing companies must meet to stay in business.
The second would allow the Attorney General to set rules for towing companies, since the office has a consumer protection unit.
Lawmakers are also suggesting setting a time limit on how long towing companies can impose storage fees.
This, they say, would make it more difficult for towing companies to raise storage fees to an unaffordable level, making it possible for them to place a lien on vehicles with unpaid balances.
We don’t target towing companies just for the sake of it. We’re just making sure people are treated fairly.
State Representative Allen Buansi
Tim Longest, a state representative pushing for passage of the bills, would also like to establish operating hours to establish a standard for how storage fees can be applied.
“Basically, you shouldn’t be charged a fee for a day you couldn’t get a car,” he said.
State Rep. Allen Buansi told the outlet that towing bills were on the table following several consumer complaints about illegal practices and blatant and regular disregard for local laws.
Nearly 110 complaints of illegal towing by various companies have been filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office this year alone.
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 restrict 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
“We don’t target towing companies just for the sake of it,” he said.
“We’re just making sure people are treated fairly.”
When WRAL reporters told Buansi about the woman who was charged an extra $100 for using a credit card, he said the new law would change that.
Especially since the high rate can seriously affect local inhabitants.
“You charge them this kind of fee that could mean the difference between them putting food on the table that night for their kids or not.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
