$275 Towing Fee?

[naturedude11]

A co-worker just told me about getting towed in Chattanooga recently, and I couldn't believe it. He, admittedly, made a mistake, parking in a towing zone at Mr. Zip on Frazier Ave. There was no street parking, he was craving a cup of coffee from Stone Cup, and thought he could get by with it for a few minutes.

No such luck, he returned to the store, the car was gone, and the Mr. Zip clerk handed him a card, and told him to call "Lucky's Towing Service." After getting a friend to drive him to South Market Street, Mr. Lucky charged him $275. Damn! Are there any regulations on what these people can charge? What keeps them from charging $500 or more? And don't some cities have limits on what towing companies can charge for this?

Again, it was my co-worker's fault, no doubt. But $275? And does the Mr. Zip store get a kickback from this?

Just wondering...this was all new to me. I remember talking to some folks who got towed from Riverbend a few years back, but I don't think it was anywhere near $275.

[frayne56]

I know a few who have been towed and had to pay cash (around the amount you stated) to get their cars back. Seems like a very lucrative business.

[joedog]

Very legal and a nice warm spot awaits them.

[frayne56]

I just wonder what the kick back rates are to the business from where the car(s) are towed ? Also these people dealing on a cash basis only have a great way to hide the income from Sam, if you know what I mean.

[pictureman]

Any recourse from the Wrecker Board?
The same people, by the way, who hand out beer licenses.
Interesting connection...

[joedog]

The reason they go for cash only is. Not to hind the funds but to make sure they get the money.
Checks can be stopped. Credit/Debit cards can be bad or disputed holding up the funds. Demand a receipt if ever in that situation. With the receipt you have proof of what you were charged. You can then bring a complaint against them with the beer and wrecker board.

[Justin Thyme]

It's private property and marked with a "Don't park here or we will haul it off at your expense" sign so I'm guessing they could charge $1000 to get the car out of impound and your friend would be obligated to pay it. I'm not even sure that charge can be regulated since it's an arrangement between two private entities.

[duke]

"Meanwhile, a state legislator has introduced bills to cap the rates charged for towing vehicles off private property.

One bill by Rep. Mike Turner would set the cap at $65 for a towed vehicle.

Another bill would not allow a towing firm to charge over $20 if the owner of the vehicle walks up before the vehicle is taken away."
www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_167332.asp

Apparently there is no legal restriction on the extortion.

[Justin Thyme]

Apparently there is no legal restriction on the extortion.

There shouldn't be. It's private property that has been marked "NO PARKING." You don't disrespect someone's private property rights by parking in a place they've told you not to.

[Police Moderator]

He, admittedly, made a mistake, parking in a towing zone at Mr. Zip on Frazier Ave. There was no street parking, he was craving a cup of coffee from Stone Cup, and thought he could get by with it for a few minutes.

Kinda like the guy I had in court once. Cited him for speeding, 79 mph in a 45 mph zone. He challenged the validity of the radar gun and stated, under oath, that as soon as he saw me, he immediately looked down at the speedometer and it read 70 or so; therefore, he should be found innocent based on the inaccuracy of radar guns.

The Judge even asked him to repeat his statement, which he did, louder this time. This right before the Judge settled the case, based on the statement of the defendant (Who had a fool for a client) finding dude "Guilty".

The Judge did give him a break and only found him guilty of speeding at the speed he admitted to in his case in chief.

I think the same guy has been writing Letters to the Editor recently.

Apparently there is no legal restriction on the extortion.

Extortion?

Seriously?

[naturedude11]

Just to be clear, there is no question my co-worker is in the wrong. He admits he shouldn't have parked there. He did something stupid. He paid the fee, got his car back, and there was no harm done.

His point, and mine, is the amount of the towing fee. $275 seems pretty steep. Maybe the state rep. can get something done about it, because it's apparently okay with the Chatt. city officials.

[Justin Thyme]

Don't look at it as a towing fee, look at it as retribution from the property owner that doesn't want people parking where he put the no parking sign. The property owner wants to seriously hurt the violator as badly as he can to discourage that type of behavior and he wants to do it legally. Through the pocketbook is the only way society finds to be acceptable. The towing company is only happy to help him.

[Warkitty]

Of course, if you'd rather we can go back to shooting people for trespassing...

[radiodrama]

Guess what I bet your friend never parks in a no parking zone again. If it was 20 bucks alot of people would take that chance. I hate to say it but you know what the way to teach people not to do something is to charge them for it. I think we need higher and more fines for things that is done for sheer lazyness. Could you imagine how much money Chattanooga could make if there were fines for dumbass stuff done around here?

[naturedude11]

Good points, folks. Maybe we can get more red light cameras, and boost the fine to $500. Heck, let's go for a thousand. It looks like that would have your support, so go for it!

[goomba]

try having your car stolen, then recoverd, and having to pay a $100+ towing/storage fee that is mandated by the city b/c the cops called the towing co. & not me.

I'm not sure if it is mandated by the city, but it sure did put damper on my already foul mood.

[Police Moderator]

Good points, folks. Maybe we can get more red light cameras, and boost the fine to $500. Heck, let's go for a thousand. It looks like that would have your support, so go for it!

You have my support on that one. But to answer your first question, it is legal and I bet your friend never, ever parks in a no parking zone again, even for a second.

Or he might be like the idiot that wrote to the Chattanoogan that he has gotten many red light/speed camera tickets. Instead of altering his behavior he spends even more money detouring around areas with cameras.

Thinking like this reaffirms my confidence in my job security.

[ScarlettP]

My car was towed out of a downtown Republic Parking lot. I had to go to court - as a witness! - and tried to park in the high rise garage close by. I circled around a bit then went to the gate and told the attendant that I couldn't find a space and wanted my gate fee back. She snapped at me "Park on the 3rd Floor!" and wouldn't open the gate to let me out. So I went back up, parked on the 3rd Floor and walked over to the court house. Within 30 minutes I was told that the defendant was doing a plea bargain (or something) and I was not needed. I got back to the parking garage and my car was gone. I walked back down to Snippy Attendant who was to busy chatting on her cell phone to look in my direction. When I finally got her attention, she said "It was towed!" She jotted down a phone number, handed me the scrap of torn paper and waved me off, very pissed at me for interrupting her personal call. I asked if I could use her phone as I don't have a cell. She yelled at me to 'get lost' basically. This left me alone, on foot, in freezing cold weather with no pay phones left on the street. Thank GOD the First Tennessee bank let me use their phone and gave me a cup of coffee while I waited for a ride.

I called the tow truck people and they wanted about $200 cash for the tow. I don't recall the exact number. I called the Republic Parking office and explained my situation. They agreed that the attendant was very rude, they had had trouble with her before and that she did not give me proper instructions to park only at a Numbered space - not the one that said "Broadstreet Market" on it. That one was a pre paid business slot that did not refer to the streets near the Exit. They waved the tow fee.

I still had to take off work AGAIN and find someone to drive me down to Rossville to pick up the car before the end of the business day. The impound man was actually very nice. Of course, had seen what a total POS my Chevy was and knew right away that I did not have the money for that tow. He was probably afraid I would say "The car's not worth $200. You can keep it."

[naturedude11]

If the towing fee had been more reasonable, even $150- 175, he would not park there again.

$ 275 is just ripoff territory. Too many pockets getting padded. I'm all for the punishment fitting the crime, but that's ridiculous.

Think about this: if the sign said, in big letters: IF YOU PARK HERE, YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY A $275 TOWING FEE... chances are, far fewer people would make that mistake. But that's not gonna happen is it? Wonder why.

[ScarlettP]

Actually, when we went to the Comedy Catch not to long ago, the parking lot down the street DID have a sign that said "*Business Name* parking only. All others towed. $200 (something) fee." There were no cars in that lot.

[Police Moderator]

Think about this: if the sign said, in big letters: IF YOU PARK HERE, YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY A $275 TOWING FEE... chances are, far fewer people would make that mistake. But that's not gonna happen is it? Wonder why.

If one fails to notice one sign, what makes you think they will notice a second sign or even read the words on the first one?

I mean he was just going in for a "a few minutes"? Knowing the local wrecker services as I do, it takes at least 20 minutes to get one to any part of the City (Even for a $275.00 reward!). I would venture a guess that he was there for more than "a few minutes".

[naturedude11]

Certainly some people will be on the side of the fee-grabbers and others who pad their wealth by preying on those who make mistakes.

I continue to maintain that most infractions are priced more reasonably when well-regulated.

I should have to pay a whopping fine if I'm caught driving 30 mph over the speed limit. It should not be quite so severe if I'm caught driving 6 mph over the speed limit.

And I'm personally in favor of the red light speed cameras. $50 is fair. I haven't run a red light, and haven't had to pay a fine. I would like to see some modifications, like the total stop before turning right on red that clogs up some intersections, but overall it's okay.

I would love to know how the towing company came up with the amount of $275....especially since it has increased dramatically in the past few years. It's also interesting to me, that a convenience store clerk, who in some cases will barely greet or acknowledge a customer, is so alert and zealous about one parking lot space, that he will hustle out and call a towing company. Wonder what's in it for him?

It will be interesting to see if any anti-towing-ripoff legislation actually passes in Tennessee, or if the Chattanooga politicians take any action. We'll soon see who wins, either the citizens or the towing companies/convenience stores and their lobbyists.

I think we all know the answer to this one, so if nothing else, maybe my co-worker's experience, and sharing this story will prevent others from making this mistake, and being held up like this.

[Police Moderator]

I think we all know the answer to this one, so if nothing else, maybe my co-worker's experience, and sharing this story will prevent others from making this mistake, and being held up like this.

You have made some very valid points. Wrecker operators have a very powerful lobby, at least in Tennessee, but I have seen grass root campaigns overcome powerful lobbies (Lowering the presumptive level of BAC on DUIs to 0.08 against the Liquor/Bar/Restaurant Industry for example).

Kind of like the Locksmith Lobby was able to make it against the law for LE to unlock car doors unless it is a life or death emergency which was a common service provided by many LE agencies.

The aforementioned law is an example of one of the laws that JiT was referencing in another thread about laws being passed solely for monetary reasons that have nothing to do with safety.

[Deleted]

(Slightly off-topic, but - - -)

Maybe I was just dreaming, but it seems like somewhere, sometime, I saw that the constitution of the Great State of Tennessee limits speeding tickets to $50 and that there would have to be a constitutional amendment to change that figure. It was a figure that was a heavy hit to the pocketbook at the time it was enacted, but these days, is comparatively minuscule.

For example, according to this inflation calculator, "What cost $50 in 1950 would cost $442.53 in 2008." (I just pulled 1950 out of my hat.)

Anybody? Prove or disprove what I think I saw?



* Edited to add:

"What cost $50 in 1930 would cost $638.95 in 2008."

[pictureman]

Speaking of outrageous fees, wait 'til you read the letter you get in the mail if you're a couple minutes late putting another quarter in the meter, and ignore the ticket tucked neatly under the windshield wiper.
So much for "punishment fitting the crime".

[radiodrama]

since nature dude believes in CAPS. DUDE LEARNED NOT TO PARK IN A NO PARKING ZONE. people do not learn from warnings they learn from paying. sure its a little high, but do you know the cost of towing? I mean why not lobby the cost of Gas, cause well since EXON makes Billions and Billions in profit each quarter that is padding the pockets right. I can't stand when people bitch about something that is their own fault, again I feel the fine was high, but hey its an expensive lesson learned. and Guess what Nature if we had more red light cameras and higher fines bet there would be alot less tickets given out.

[naturedude11]

Attaboy Drama, way to put me in my place. If you would like to email the mayor, and support higher fees, please do so. His email is [e-mail]. And I know all the starving towing companies would appreciate it.

But when you put in that part about Exxon, try to spell it right.

[frayne56]

Bottom line it is a rip off designed to pad the pockets of the haulers and businesses, not to mention avoiding taxes by operating on a cash basis. IMHO anyways.

[el Gusano]

The attendant may not have to call the towing company.

When I lived in DC, towing companies had permission to automatically tow a car parked in a towaway zone (but not a no parking zone; different regulations) and they were permitted to charge a certain amount. They drove around looking for cars parked in towaway zones.

[Justin Thyme]

If you would like to email the mayor, and support higher fees, please do so.

The mayor has nothing to do with this. It is an arrangement between two private concerns, the establishment with the tow-away zone and the towing company. Eighth Amendment concerns don't even come into play with this.