LAWMAKERS unanimously agreed to pass a law aiming to protect residents against deceptive towing companies.
One man said his car was removed from his parking spot three times.
Carl Michael and other tenants were towed by a predatory towing multiple times[/caption]
He raged about multiple $320 tickets within one year[/caption]
Carl Michael, a driver from Tampa, Florida, lives in an apartment complex that uses a private towing company to patrol the tenant parking lot.
Michael, and other residents, are middle to low-income residents.
He said he and several tenants have been towed multiple times this year, and have suffered financially for it.
“We’re all living paycheck to paycheck, so when you get hit with $320 or $190 randomly, it breaks you,” Micahel told NBC affiliate WTSP.
Michael said the towing company is not only expensive but incredibly prompt.
It’s almost like a driver is constantly scanning for those who make small mistakes.
“It’s like they’re watching you. It’s predatory, man,” he said.
Since January, he’s had to pay hundreds to retrieve his car multiple times.
“I can’t afford this, you know?” he said.
“They just got my car for the third time in one year.
Hillsborough County officials passed a law that went into effect on July 1 that requires towing companies to be more transparent about pricing.
Instead of only taking cash, towing companies are required to take multiple forms of payment.
They’re also required to post max towing pricing on their website, as well as offer a price sheet to give customers an idea of how much they’d pay for service.
The state requires all towing companies to impose “reasonable” fees to customers, too.
The law also mandates numerous, plentiful, and informational signs be erected in tow-away zones to properly warn drivers.
What to do if your car is towed
Wrongfully or not, retrieving 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 a few steps to take to get it back.
Steps to take when your car is towed:
- Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted “No Parking” sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.
If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:
- Be prompt – many states have a small window of time where it’s acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.
- Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.
- Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm
To ensure towing companies in Hillsborough county are within compliance, all council members agreed to investigate all towing companies.
If necessary, the laws will be adjusted to ensure instances like Michael’s don’t become a recurring problem.
Especially since Tampa residents like Micahel aren’t financially fit enough to afford towing and storage fees multiple times per year.
Michael is excited that lawmakers are looking to protect residents, especially low-income housing.
“I think [it’s important], especially for low-income housing,” he said.
