My car was towed for crimes I didn’t even commit – the police were about to auction it off when I finally proved my innocence

A former police officer left the force with a clean record – after her license plates were stolen, citations for repeated violations led to a tow.

Now she’s racing against the clock to prevent her car from being auctioned off.

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Last summer, Tanya Williams, a retired police officer, discovered her car’s license plates were missing – indicating a robbery.

She reported the crime and thought it was the end.

However, shortly after the theft, several breaches began piling up in his mailbox.

Tickets for running red lights, speeding in school zones, parking in school zones, parking tickets, and toll evasion tickets flooded her mailbox, even though the license plates were for a car she didn’t own.

“This has been going on for a year, it happened in June 2023,” Williams told the ABC affiliate WABC.

Leafing through the growing pile of violations, Williams realized the thief wasn’t limiting himself to just one area.

“E-ZPass New York, New Jersey, speed zones… They were in Delaware, Connecticut, they were everywhere.”

To make matters worse, Williams didn’t realize the extent of the violations and fines due to knee surgery that made it difficult to check mail.

Williams was frustrated because she did the right thing by reporting the stolen signs.

“I reported the theft, why am I getting all these tickets?” she said.

As Williams tried to process the violations and figure out next steps, she was the victim of another unwelcome surprise.

“I went out a few days later and there was a trunk in my car,” she said.

Williams’ nightmare didn’t end with a boot.

“I started calling everyone I could call to stop this from happening. [towed]. Next thing I know, it’s gone,” Williams continued.

I reported it stolen, why am I getting all these tickets?

Tanya Williams, retired police officer

After contacting the towing company, everything seemed to get worse for her as a representative told her that the car would be put up for auction if she didn’t pay the fines within a short time.

That’s when she decided to contact WABC investigators to bring the matter to media attention.

“The whole time I was fighting I had to call someone, I called you,” she said.

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

WABC reporters quickly used their resources to speak with the DMV, the Department of Finance and police to review the details of Williams’ case.

They then contacted the Department of Transportation.

A few hours after calls to various entities, Williams was reunited with his vehicle.

All violations were also erased from his record.

“I couldn’t have done it without you, 7 On Your Side!” said Williams.