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Predatory towing is where the vehicle owner has been deceived into parking in a prohibited area (such as contradictory signing) &/or where the tow operator removes a vehicle in violation of the established regulations.

So long as the tow operator is acting within clearly established regulations, then they're just doing their job. One's gripe is therefore not necessarily with the tow operator; rather it's with the property owner who retained the services of the towing company.

As far as things goes in Virginia, I really have no idea which way it is. From the ARL Now post, it makes it sound like the towers are just doing their job; but again I can't say for sure without actually observing it myself.

Of the four times I've ever been towed: two (in State College, PA) were blatantly me parking where I shouldn't be. It was annoying to have to chase down my car, but it was also my fault so I paid the fine without objection. The people I dealt with were nice through the whole process.

The other two times was my aforementioned issue in Silver Spring (to which the property owner has yet to respond despite numerous attempts over the past two years) and also again up in State College. With that one: I was towed out of my own assigned space at my apartment, damaging my rear axle & tires because they used the wrong type of truck on my car. With that, I successfully pressed charges against the company for vehicle theft, sued for damages & settled out of court for exactly the amount I'd sued for, and convinced every apartment community on the entire northern half of State College to stop doing business with them ... I don't get angry; I get vengeful :)

There are good companies and there are bad companies, though by and large my opinion (I emphasise *opinion*) is that most are honest companies; they just happen to be in an industry that almost inherently has unhappy customers. ...Except for when you're stranded on the side of the road, in which case those same companies become saviors. I can at least say that I have yet to meet an actual *operator* that hasn't been a nice person, though the folks back in their offices have sometimes left something to be desired.

by Bossi on Sep 30, 2010 1:35 pm • link • report