My car was towed from my house in the dead of night and held for $300 – we had a parking pass and didn’t even need one

An unsuspecting driver is desperate for answers after his car was towed from his building and held for $300.

Tennessee native Frederick James said his car was stolen even after he legally parked in a spot that didn’t require a pass.

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In July 2023, managers at the Hillside Apartments, located in Nashville’s Edgehill neighborhood, enforced a new parking rule that asked all residents to display their permits in the private garage.

Some residents did not have money to pay for the pass, so they parked outside in spaces open to the public.

However, they were shocked to wake up and find their cars had disappeared without a trace, even though they thought they were following the rules.

“All these cars are being towed for no reason,” resident Frederick James told NBC affiliate WSMV Last July.

“They’re taking away people who have nothing to begin with.”

According to James, people were paying more than $300 to get their vehicles back and not getting any answers as to why they were taken.

Dylan McCann, another resident of the complex, said he lost precious money he planned to spend on his unborn child.

“They took money out of my son’s mouth,” he told the local station.

McCann admitted he parked in the garage without a pass, but was working to get one for his vehicle.

“We had to save money to get our car out,” he said.

Expenses continue to mount for residents like Priscilla Wade, who said she had to order an Uber to retrieve her car.

Wade explained that he needed to get a loan to pay for the expensive towing fees.

At the time, Hillside management did not make any comments or statements about the towing that residents felt were unfair.

According to McCann, more than 60 cars were removed from the scene.

Still believing he was right, James wonders why his car was towed.

“I fulfilled [the permit rule] and parked the vehicle outside,” he said.

“Now my vehicle is gone?”

James said he believes all cars that were parked outside should be returned and towing fees refunded.

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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

TICKET TRAPS

Other residents introduced the car towing drama.

A woman said she was hit with a speeding ticket while her car was in the back of a tow truck.

She was shocked to see the photographic evidence the city gave her and wanted the violation removed.

And more drivers in New Jersey said they were not notified when their cars were towed to an unknown location.

Drivers need to try to understand why their car was towed so the problem doesn’t happen again.

It’s also important to pay the fee quickly, as some tow companies will increase fees if the vehicle remains there for too long.

Those who think their car was improperly towed should quickly file a complaint with the city government and provide as much proof as possible that they were right.