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Post by Justin Thyme on Mar 3, 2010 16:36:41 GMT -5
Okay, but you do realize this does not restrict fees that can be charged to recover an illegally parked vehicle on private property that was towed by a private business. Don't you?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2010 18:17:43 GMT -5
> Yoda, that does not pertain to this situation.
Agreed. I was just updating my February 14th post on page one of this topic. Granted, both posts are off-topic. Perhaps I should have forked to a new topic.
It wouldn't be the first time I've been thoroughly forked.
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Post by naturedude11 on Mar 4, 2010 16:05:16 GMT -5
Some of those poor old towing boys went before the Wrecker Board this morning. They have lowered their fees by about 100 dollars. Suddenly they don't have quite the "expenses" they had a few weeks ago.
Naw, they're not crooks. They haven't been fleecing people. Right.
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Post by gridbug on Mar 4, 2010 16:10:07 GMT -5
Speaking of crooks, has your friend found legal ways to buy a cup of coffee?
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Post by Justin Thyme on Mar 4, 2010 16:12:07 GMT -5
I don't think I've ever said they were not fleecing folks with a $275 tow. I just think it's acceptable to fleece assholes.
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Post by Police Moderator on Mar 4, 2010 18:20:52 GMT -5
Wrecker Operators Speak Out On Non-consent Towing Fee
by Dana Wilbourn
posted March 4, 2010 Numerous wrecker companies on Thursday addressed the Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board about a proposed fee cap for towing a vehicle from private property without the owner’s consent. Amid rumors that the fee might be set as low as $75 or $85, operators urged the board to keep it in line with the fees authorized in the city code for towing cars involved in an accident. Those fees start at $125 for day time and $135 for night time. Operators representing S & H Towing, Caines Towing, TowCo, All About Towing, and Lucky’s Towing spoke to the board. The consensus was they agreed a fee cap may be necessary, but the city should be reasonable when setting the fee. Most operators said they have had guns and knives pulled on them while performing a non-consent tow. Death threats are common, they said. For this reason, the operators hire security to assist with the tow. Having to pay two men (driver and security) and having to use a dolly and/or winching, the operators say they now charge $185 to $250 for a non-consent tow. Several board members said they have received complaints and copies of non-consent tows as high as $400. Officer John Collins said he has a picture of a sign placed by a towing company that reads, “$25 Extra Charge for Cussing.” Read more: chattanoogan |
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Post by frayne56 on Mar 4, 2010 20:54:36 GMT -5
Isn't there something fundamentally wrong with "Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board" ?
But if you talk to Lucky, prolly not !!!!!
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Post by gridbug on Mar 5, 2010 8:01:25 GMT -5
This from the Mayor/Council that we have currently trying to raise fees & fines several hundred percent?!? Considering that Littlefield's legacy will be "Chattanooga's taxingest Mayor ever" if there was any consistency in their actions, that cap would be set around $2000.
No stranger than the FDC, ATF, or beer sponsoring NASCAR.
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Post by davrik on Mar 5, 2010 8:34:25 GMT -5
Here is scenario - Lets say the guy that started this thread paid $3 for that cup of coffee. I wonder if he would have madehis own business arrangement with the convenience store by slipping the clerk a $10 bill to park for a couple minutes to run and get his coffee. Thats $13 bucks for the cup. Better than $278 he ende up paying.
My bet is that he wouldn't have paid the $13 for one cup of coffee either. Therefore, despite being $265 cheaper, he wouldnt have done it. He would have taken his chance by parking illeagally in dudes parking lot.
You take your chances, then you pay the price. I have parked in places where I shouldnt have. Sometimes I got by - sometimes I didnt. When I was caught, I paid whatever fine there was. I figure that when I average the lucky stops with the unlucky, my fine is abot 20% of what it appears. My guess is Naturedudes friend has parked illegally before, as well. If he did it a total of 5 times, his average "fine" is but $55.
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Post by naturedude11 on Mar 5, 2010 8:57:41 GMT -5
Call it what you will. The thieves have been exposed, and their towing fees are about to be capped at the same rate that other Tennessee cities allow....about half of what they've been charging in Chattanooga. The fact that some of them have suddenly reduced their rates, right before their regulatory hearing, speaks volumes.
If they "can't stay in business" maybe the Nashville towing companies will start up here. Somehow they stay in business without holding people up.
If the Chattanooga companies hadn't been cheating and gouging, it would have never gotten this far. It's good to see them finally being reined in.
For those of you who support outrageous fees on this message board, feel free to pay an extra $150 the next time you're fined for something. Call it a tip. Then everybody's happy!
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Post by gridbug on Mar 5, 2010 9:10:45 GMT -5
Do you REALLY not understand whose actions in this situation were legal and whose were illegal? Maybe you should start saving up for the fines you are sure to incur yourself.
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Post by el Gusano on Mar 5, 2010 9:28:50 GMT -5
Just boot their car, and have the unbooter take about 24 hours to come back if they cap it.
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Post by gridbug on Mar 5, 2010 10:00:46 GMT -5
Just boot their car, and have the unbooter take about 24 hours to come back if they cap it. In this case that hurts the victim more than the perpetrator. Down on the North Shore, businesses that have their own parking simply would not be able to do business if people park in their lots. How is a convenient store supposed to stay in business if customers can not get in because inconsiderate jerks filled up their parking lot? It is not surprising at all they would have a tow truck just waiting to get these cars out of the way in minutes. Illegal parking can severely hurt the businesses there. |
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Post by Justin Thyme on Mar 5, 2010 10:28:30 GMT -5
Get this through your head. I'm not stupid enough, nor am I inconsiderate enough, to park illegally in a convenience store parking lot that most likely sells a cup of coffee for $1.25 to patronize another place selling coffee for >$1.90. If I were I would deserve to be gouged.
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Post by el Gusano on Mar 5, 2010 13:37:14 GMT -5
Grid, how long do you think it would take for people to learn? The first few would be like putting people in a pillory: "Look at the idiot who won't be able to use his car for 24 hours because he's an inconsiderate jerk who whined about parking fees!"
I would bet that illegal parking wouldn't be a problem for very long.
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Post by Warkitty on Mar 5, 2010 14:10:42 GMT -5
No Gus, they'd just go demand the city pass a law against getting their cars booted for more than 2 hrs.
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Post by gridbug on Mar 5, 2010 14:14:55 GMT -5
I know too many people to assume a significant number of them can learn.
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Post by naturedude11 on Mar 5, 2010 20:09:39 GMT -5
:-/Keep the laffs coming, folks...the Comedy Catch is hiring.
Since y'all are so generous to ripoff artists, here's an idea for you.
The next time you get your car serviced, expecting to pay around $300 for labor and parts....and then your invoice says $500...and you find out they didn't do the work they said they did...
hell, leave them a $100 tip. They're just good business people in a free market, right!
They should be able to charge whatever they want to...you're the one who chose to patronize them, right?
Keep peckin' away. The bad guys lost. Too damn bad for them, and for you.
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Post by el Gusano on Mar 5, 2010 20:54:28 GMT -5
You fail to understand: Your "friend" entered into a contract with them, and they fulfilled their end of it.
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Post by emanon on Mar 5, 2010 21:20:01 GMT -5
:-/Keep the laffs coming, folks...the Comedy Catch is hiring. Since y'all are so generous to ripoff artists, here's an idea for you. The next time you get your car serviced, expecting to pay around $300 for labor and parts....and then your invoice says $500...and you find out they didn't do the work they said they did... hell, leave them a $100 tip. They're just good business people in a free market, right! They should be able to charge whatever they want to...you're the one who chose to patronize them, right? Keep peckin' away. The bad guys lost. Too damn bad for them, and for you. That is such a bad analogy. Your friend was not even going into the convenience store business. He was parking ILLEGALLY to go to ANOTHER business. If you take your example, it would be more like, your friend went to a business that services cars, parked his car there to make them lose business, or make it hard for legitimate customers to access the business and leave to go up the street to another business. Then get pissy when the car is moved and he has to pay a fee so the business can service actual customers. |
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Post by naturedude11 on Mar 5, 2010 21:25:12 GMT -5
Whatever. Keep up your boo-hoos for the Chattanooga towing thieves. They'll need it. Actually they already do. It's never easy when you're caught with your grubby hands in the cookie jar.
The punishment hurts. And they're being forced to (grab hankies here) charge what the towing companies in other cities do.
Poor them.
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Post by Warkitty on Mar 5, 2010 22:25:02 GMT -5
Yeah, cuz dammit naturedude and his buddy should have the inalienable right to park anywhere they want with minimal charges for their inconsiderate and oft illegal acts. They should also probably be allowed to dump their trash where ever they want (including other people's property), go 20mph over the speed limit and wander through their neighbor's houses at will "borrowing" their neighbor's silver.
(though I imagine if the same were done to them they'd be looking to hike those fees and charges up again)
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Post by el Gusano on Mar 5, 2010 22:35:09 GMT -5
You need to be sure to look to other cities as to how much you can charge for illegal dumping on private property, how much to fine them for breaking and entering, etc.
If they had parked illegally here, odds are, some kids, probably Russian, would have something new for target practice.
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Post by naturedude11 on Mar 6, 2010 7:17:45 GMT -5
Here's a great letter to Chattanoogan.com about the towing ripoff artists who have been exposed for what they really are, blatant thieves: www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_170437.aspAlmost forgot... thanks to CPD Officers Collins and Rawlston for having the balls to stand up to the towing thieves. John Collins in particular has led the charge against price gouging. He provided proof to the Wrecker Board that these companies have been doubling and tripling their fees, just because they can. I appreciate these Chattanooga Police officers for once again, doing what's right. (It's interesting how none of the "pro-towing thieves" forum regulars here have spewed any venom toward these police officers...) |
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Post by Justin Thyme on Mar 6, 2010 13:17:04 GMT -5
I don't recall anyone spewing venom toward any specific individual, only the group of people who arrogantly have decided they can park any damn where they please and suffer only minimal consequences.
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Post by naturedude11 on Mar 7, 2010 9:17:18 GMT -5
I see. So you support the Chattanooga police officers on this one. Great then, we agree.
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Post by Police Moderator on Mar 7, 2010 11:08:45 GMT -5
I think this should be completely market driven. If there is a market of people who are willing to pay an amount to have their vehicles back after parking illegally, then the price should be fixed at what the scofflaws are willing to pay to get their cars back.
If there are not enough people willing to risk a high charge by refusing to park illegally, then the towing services will have to lower the prices they charge for the remaining idiots.
Simple economics.
And why are the police even involved in this economic issue anyway?
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Post by el Gusano on Mar 7, 2010 11:32:05 GMT -5
Why is the government involved in any transaction that is freely made between these individuals?
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Post by Justin Thyme on Mar 7, 2010 11:50:18 GMT -5
I see. So you support the Chattanooga police officers on this one. Great then, we agree. So unless I agree with the officers, and you in this case, I'm spewing venom? Well, with the flawed logic you've used so far in this thread I guess I can understand that. So tell me, did these two officers stand before the board as representatives of the Chattanooga Police Department when they asked for limits to be set on towing fees or were they making a personal plea to the wrecker board? Not that it really matters either way. They have it wrong. |
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Post by el Gusano on Mar 7, 2010 12:03:11 GMT -5
There should be a government program limiting the price of coffee.
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