BOOTING companies face a new law that restricts the circumstances on when they can boot and how much they can charge to release a vehicle.
The law came into force on the first of this month, putting an end to “ransom payments”.
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The Move Over Act, signed into law in Tennessee and effective July 1, aims to end the predatory boot and tow practices seen in Memphis.
Several driver complaints have been filed, particularly from out-of-state drivers who have been turned away at gas stations or truck stops after businesses claimed the driver parked illegally.
It’s something Memphis resident Quincy Farris has seen all too often.
“From what I saw, there are more people from outside the city who don’t know the city if you are stopping at a truck stop because they do it at truck stops and not just regular parking lots, they just do it in the trunk,” Farris told the ABC affiliate. WMC-TV.
After being started, companies charged very high prices, generally not accepting credit cards, to release the vehicle.
The American Trucking Association (ATA) has referred to Memphis as a “hotspot” for illegal towing.
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear recalled the story of a truck driver who was charged $275 to remove a boot.
They didn’t accept credit card payments, so the driver was forced to call the company to pay the fine or be towed.
The company allegedly paid thousands to have the vehicle returned from the impound yard.
Farris said he has heard of drivers being fired after the company was forced to pay to release the truck.
“First of all, the driver might have to pay three or four hundred dollars out of pocket,” he said.
“The company they drive for may not even reimburse the driver and that puts them at a disadvantage and the company may even fire the driver because of it.”
The new bill hopes to put an end to stories like this by forcing startup companies to apply for a startup license.
It also limits booting to commercial lots and requires booters to remove it within 30 minutes of the driver’s call.
Additionally, the highest amount a company can charge is $75 to remove a boot.
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
Truckers in the state and those who travel through it are happy to see the law on their side.
“Predatory towing companies have taken advantage of the trucking industry for too long and we refuse to continue making these ransom payments,” Spear wrote in a statement.
The trucking business is essential to the health of Memphis and the rest of the state, with more than 90% of cities relying on trucks to import goods.
The industry also supports more than 250,000 jobs statewide.
With the new bill, out-of-state truck drivers are much safer from opportunistic loaders and tow truck drivers.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
