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A DRIVER forced a company to pay back over $150 in towing fees after he successfully fought for his refund.
Now, the driver says other car owners deserve their money back and is asking for changes in a state parking rule.
A driver fought back after getting a $156 towing fee[/caption]
The driver said parking signs failed to adequately warn car owners[/caption]
Ronnie Lewis visited an apartment complex but couldn’t find an eligible parking space, according to Texas-based Fox affiliate KDFW.
“It all started when I was visiting a friend at an apartment complex,” he told the station.
“I came back to get my car, and it was gone. I thought it was stolen.”
The night before, Lewis attempted to park in visitor spaces in the lot.
However, they were all blocked off by temporary garbage dumpsters. He moved his car to a “Future Residents” parking space.
Then, he took pictures of the dumpsters and the signs around his parked car.
None of the signs warned drivers their cars would be towed if improperly placed in his spot.
Then, after leaving the car, it was towed, and Lewis was assigned a $156 bill.
Lewis contested the towing fee until a judge rewarded his $156 fine.
“It is a very tedious process,” he said about his refund issues.
“If you don’t know the law and wonder, ‘Do I have to get an attorney?’”
Lewis has since spoken up, hoping that state regulators will step up to help low-income residents.
Referencing KDFW’s previous reporting on other apartment complex towing rates, Lewis said he has spoken at public meetings hoping to quell aggressive towing companies.
The station previously reported that towing companies disproportionately towed vehicles parked near low-income apartments.
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
“The law is the same whether I am in El Paso, Oak Cliff, Las Colinas, but the treatment of people appears to differ,” Lewis said.
“And that is why I have been digging into this because everyone should be treated fairly.”
Lewis joined a public Zoom meeting with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and advocated for new towing rules across the state.
“I am not asking vehicles not to be towed,” he said in the meeting.
“I’m asking what TDLR can do to reduce the human error aspect and bring structure to the process.”
Members of the board agreed to look into better regulations around towing complaints.
Drivers are able to get their money back if they successfully file a complaint with the agency at this link.
But vehicle owners only have 14 days after the receipt of the ticket to file the complaint.
