A DRIVER’S car was unexpectedly loaded onto the back of a tow truck. He is subject to a surprise $175 fine.
The owner of a Jeep Cherokee said his SUV was wrongfully towed while he was on vacation.
two
two
“It’s not a good day in Philadelphia,” Jeep owner Devin Bathgate told local Fox affiliate WTXF-TV while looking for his car in the parking lot.
“I went to the casinos and lost a lot of money last night, and now I got towed today.”
Bathgate said he parked the SUV in a private space owned by the hotel where he stayed.
The driver said he had permission from the hotel to park the car in the space.
But a towing company stole his car and took it to the impound location, even though the driver said he did nothing wrong.
“The ticket was supposed to be $222, but I’m going to dispute it, so they said pay $175 today,” he told the station.
Bathgate also said the tow truck left a dent in the front bumper of the SUV, where the vehicle was hooked.
“They damaged my vehicle,” he said.
“Then I’m not happy.”
However, the city passed a new road law to protect drivers from illegal tow trucks.
PHILLY SPECIAL
Philadelphia lawmakers passed Bill 43, which will require all tow operators to take a photo of a vehicle before hitching it to their truck.
The project was sanctioned on Monday.
“I think this is the step in the right direction to protect not only constituents, but also towing companies unfairly accused of towing vehicles,” Stae representative José Giral told the station.
“They create a kind of checks and balances scenario.”
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 be dialed.
- 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
Several towing companies in the area told the sheriff’s office that they already require their employees to take photos before hijacking vehicles.
“It’s a very simple thing to do,” Ed Durning, owner of a towing company, told the station.
“I mean, I think it’s good because you’re protecting yourself and that way there are no discrepancies in the future.”
The law will come into force in September.
But for now, previous laws dictate a towing company’s ability to issue parking tickets to drivers.
Bathgate said it would have been nice to have a photo of his vehicle before it was towed to refute the ticket.
He paid $175 to get his vehicle because he had no consumer protection.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
