DRIVERS are speaking out after an unmarked pickup truck was allegedly caught on camera hooking up their vehicles.
Surveillance video captured the moment a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup with a makeshift towing device stuck vehicles in the street parking lot.
two
“It put me in a bad situation,” Amber, a driver whose car was allegedly stolen, told the Kansas City-based CBS affiliate. KCTV.
“It’s really frustrating.”
Amber, the driver of a Dodge Durango, said her home’s surveillance cameras captured the moment the tow truck stole her car.
In the video, a man jumped out of the passenger seat before taking the large SUV.
After securing the Durango, the man quickly got into the pickup truck.
He drove away with the Durango in tow.
Amber, who did not want to reveal her last name to the network, said she posted the video of the strange trailer on her social media.
Several people in the community said something similar happened to them.
“It’s crazy, it’s crazy,” Kernisha Lanar, another driver in the neighborhood who said her car was also impounded, told the police station.
“Just giving it to God, to be honest. It’s been difficult, to be honest.”
Lanar said he has struggled to get to work since his vehicle was stolen.
Both Lanar and Amber said they filed police reports.
Kansas City Police told the station they are aware of the complaints and are investigating the tow.
“He needs to be caught,” Lanar added.
“If anyone knows who is doing this, they also need to say something.”
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
TOWING HELP
Drivers who have been illegally towed have several legal avenues, according to California Specialized Towing.
The company said an illegal tow is defined as a tow operator who does not obtain “consent or follow proper protocol.”
Tow operators are not permitted to pick up cars that are not legally under their written responsibility.
Most states have highway laws against illegal towing, the company said.
First, drivers should call the police, according to the company.
Once the company and car are located, drivers in most states can sue illegal tow operators for damages.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
