DISQUS

JB · 1 year ago

I did not get towed that night, but I was towed during a Block Party one night and was furious. I did not come out until later and there was no where to park, so I parked at an Arby's where many other people were parked. I went in, ordered a sandwich, came out and went down to the block party. When I returned to the parking lot at 2 AM, my car along with about 10 others had been towed. Arby's was closed but there was a sign saying where we could get it back. When I saw my towing ticket, it said I had been towed after midnight.

To put it bluntly, what some of these companies do is pure bullshit and I swear that they get kickbacks from the towing company. They charged me $200 for being towed THREE BLOCKS.

moski · 1 year ago

My recommendation is to call the police and have the towing company charged with theft. Seizing ones property in lue of payment is a violation of your 4th amendment rights. Think of it this way. If your dog was in your neighbors yard could they legally capture and hold your dog for a ransom? Look into the city code for towing. By law in the city, no one can tow any vehicle without the owners consent unless the CHIEF of the police department requests it. It can't even be requested by a cop. (unless it's an emergency) All towing must also go through the towing review board.

So how many laws were broken yesterday?

527.14 VEHICLES TOWED FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY.
All towing services under contract with the City, as well as all other towing services in
private business, shall notify the Bureau of Police whenever a vehicle is towed from private
property at the direction of the property owner with the following information: the date of the
tow; the license number, vehicle identification number and make of the towed vehicle; the
location from which it was towed and the reason for such tow; and the location where such
vehicle is impounded. (Ord. 3-1989 '1. Passed 1-25-89.)

Was all this information provided to the police?


527.15 TOWING REVIEW BOARD.
A Towing Review Board shall be established which shall consist of a member of Council
appointed by the President of Council, two City residents appointed by Council, an Administrator
appointed by the Mayor, and a member of the Bureau of Police, appointed by the Chief of Police.
(Ord. 9-1989 '1. Passed 2-8-89.)
527.16 DUTIES OF BOARD.
The Towing Review Board shall hold regular meetings to be determined by the Board
members and shall be for the following purposes:
(a) Conduct administrative hearings pursuant to Title 2 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes Chapter 5, Subchapter B to hear appeals concerning the
removal of abandoned vehicles; and
(b) Review noncriminal disputes concerning vehicles towed by wrecker services
under contract with the City to tow vehicles pursuant to this article and to make
final determinations. (Ord. 9-1989 '1. Passed 2-8-89.)

Last time I called the City Solicitors office, they had no idea this law was even on the books.

527.05 CHIEF OF POLICE TO NOTIFY OWNERS.
Within twenty-four hours from the time of removal of any vehicle under authority granted
by this article, notice of the fact that such vehicle has been impounded shall be sent by the Chief
of Police to the owner of record of such vehicle. Such notice shall designate the place from
which the vehicle was removed, the reason for its removal and impounding and the pound in
which it shall have been impounded. (Ord. 48-1982 '1. Passed 7-14-82.)

How many of you were notified by the chief of police?