Question: I recently found a towtruck about to my car away went I went to Bruegger's on Hillsborough. They told me to pay $100 to drop the car and they wrote me the tow ticket and everything. My roomate told me (and I read somewhere else on the boards) that if you find them with your car and they haven't left, then they have to drop you.

Does anyone have any links to any online information or anyone to call as far as the truth of this ordinance, or who I could contact (possibly with the city) to ask about this.

Truth is, I was parked in a Sylvia's spot (though I figured since it was 9 am and the place wasnt open that it was OK), and I dont mind sucking it up if the whole thing was legit, but if the drivers of the truck broke the law just to pocket some money, Id like to take some action if possible. It just seemed that since it was before Sylvias operation hours and the tow truck hadn't driven off or anything, that maybe they were obligated to drop the car somehow and did not.

[Edited on June 15, 2006 at 4:08 PM. Reason : trying =/ about]

6/15/2006 4:07:46 PM

im pretty sure they can still charge you, but it isnt as much as normal.

[Edited on June 15, 2006 at 4:08 PM. Reason : thought they capped it at 50 or something.]

6/15/2006 4:08:26 PM

this information has been covered here - did you try searching?

6/15/2006 4:08:56 PM

yeah i searched, thats why i said i read it on the boards, but i didnt find any links or anything...

if you can find it in the threads, why dont you link me to the thread if you'd be so kind

6/15/2006 4:09:36 PM

you must really suck

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=382037

http://thewolfweb.com/message_search.aspx?type=topic§ion=1&searchstring=tow&username=&usertype=match&sortby=date&sortorder=descending&page=

there are only 2 threads that come up on the search - 1 has in the first post all of the information you need

6/15/2006 4:11:10 PM

Quote :

"For those of you that dont know the predatory towing ordinance sets the maximum fees for predatory towing in the city of Raleigh. Midsouth tried to rip one of my friends off one time and got called out on it because we knew about this. - The cant charge more than $100 for a predatory tow - Must be staffed 24 hours if they are enganged in predatory towing (to allow owners to pick up cars at any time) - They can only carge $50 for a drop fee if you catch them before they pull away."

[Edited on June 15, 2006 at 4:16 PM. Reason : .]

6/15/2006 4:15:15 PM

^ i read that thread, but I dont think that The fucking Wolf Web would count as proper legal references...

I saw the link to the damn WRAL story, but I'm more looking for a government site or a reference for what office to contact since they lied.

6/15/2006 4:15:59 PM

^^ ah, what makes the difference between predatory towing and not?


predatory being that you parked legally?

6/15/2006 4:16:47 PM

predatory is where there is a guy watching the lot - whenever someone parks there - they radio to the truck - truck comes and towes

6/15/2006 4:17:46 PM

i edited, my guess the distinction is that someone didnt call them to tow you.

[Edited on June 15, 2006 at 4:18 PM. Reason : someone being an owner or something, they just out to get you]

[Edited on June 15, 2006 at 4:19 PM. Reason : but seriously there are a buncha news articles and they can charge you to drop, sux bro]

6/15/2006 4:17:57 PM

yes, noone called. Sylvia's wasnt open. I think they just drove up and thought "Hey, SYlvia's is closed and this guy is parked there, obviously he's not a patron. BLING!"

These were some neck-ish looking motherfuckers too.

I think this is what gets me the most. "If you return to your car before the tow truck leaves the lot, you can get your car back for a charge up to $50." That and I specifically asked if I could pay with a credit card and they said no, that it had to be cash only.

[Edited on June 15, 2006 at 4:22 PM. Reason : add]

6/15/2006 4:20:03 PM

rarely do tow trucks drive around looking for people - they are usually called by scouts

6/15/2006 4:20:59 PM

"Predatory towing means your car has been towed without your consent, excluding orders that come from the city or police."

[Edited on June 15, 2006 at 4:27 PM. Reason : so who could I call about this, cause a) they lied about the credit cards and b) they charged double]

6/15/2006 4:26:54 PM

If they take off with your vehicle, I doubt you can get your money back, or 50 of it. Keep in mind these people are in business to make money just like anyone else. Once they enter in all the info, it's a pain to them to delete it, and maybe impossible on the spot. Plus, it's less money for them, I'm not sure what tow trucks make, but if you catch them before they leave (and they still take off) then they are either a terrible person, or they get some sort of commission. They can always lie and say "I've never seen this person in my life" and the process you'd go through to prove otherwise would be mroe time and money than it would just to get your car out.

[Edited on June 15, 2006 at 8:23 PM. Reason : .]

6/15/2006 8:22:08 PM

Haa I was watching that movie "Waiting..." last night and the manager at Shenanaganz was hiding out by the back dumpsters on his cell phone waiting to call the tower on people who parked in the "Shenaneganz Employee/Customer Only" spot.

6/15/2006 8:39:47 PM

if he got the ticket from the guy it is obvious that he met with him.

6/15/2006 8:44:42 PM

yeah, and my friend was there (i guess acting as a witness) to back up my story of them telling me i couldnt use my credit card...

The conversation went something like this:

"Is this your car?"
"yeah"
"You parked in the Sylvias spot."
"Oh shit. I didnt realize you couldnt park there now. Well..."
"A hundred dollars to drop it."
"Are you serious..."
"There an ATM right there around the corner."
"Can I use a credit card?"
"No."
I go to my car, cause I remembered I had cash in there just randomly from a beach trip.
My friend: "It's a Sylvia's spot. Who's going to park there when theyre closed?"
"Contractor's may need to park there."
I come back and give him the money and he asks for my ID to write up the tow ticket and he lowers my car so I can sit in it while I wait (it was in the middle of the tropical storm remnants). He fill sit out, gives me my shit back, and drives off.


The whole thing seems retardedly sketch. I mean if I just go talk to the towing company, dont you think they'll just laugh in my face?

6/15/2006 11:25:56 PM

Depends...I mean you have your receipt...and I bet that the driver noted the time of the tow. I'm wondering if he made note of the drop. What does your receipt say?

6/15/2006 11:31:59 PM

Tips to get your car back FREE

1) When you arrive demand to see your car and claim you have witnesses that saw your car damaged when towed. Bring said witnesses (friends).

2) Find said damage on your car. Scrapes, dents etc. Then say you'll call the police if they don't release your car immediate and pay for the damages

3) If they say no, IMMEDIATELY call the police and have them come.

4) Profit.

It works. I know. Of course, mine was real and they really did nick my bumper on something.

6/16/2006 8:13:08 AM

I've posted the actual law in like 4 of these threads, search for that and ignore the crap people are making up in this thread.

6/16/2006 8:20:13 AM

they violated the raleigh code in two ways.
1) not accepting the credit card
2) charging you $100 for dropping the vehicle (the max they can legally charge is $50)

i would just call them today, demand a full refund on principle that they ripped you off, if they refuse raise all hell, file complaints, write letters, do what you have to do to get this straight.

im sure WRAL is ready to do another story on this, all of the towing companies have been flouting/disregarding the ordinance because most citizens to not know about it. since this has developed in to a pattern it would make a good news story.

6/16/2006 8:44:12 AM