RESIDENTS living in a major part of a US state have been warned of a so-called “vehicle hostage” scam involving certain tow trucks.
In a recent news release, officials representing the California Department of Insurance spread awareness of a racket that cheats car owners out of large sums of money to get their vehicles back after they’re involved in a traffic accident.
GettyDrivers in Southern California have been warned of a scam involving certain tow trucks[/caption]Reportedly a growing problem in Southern California, a wide-reaching investigation by the CDI’s Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force recently charged 16 people in an alleged conspiracy to create fake insurance claims – illegally collecting nearly $217,000.
The release added: “One of the scams in this case involves a tow truck showing up immediately after a collision occurs and offering to help the driver by towing their vehicle to a body shop.
“Then the body shop forces the driver to pay a large amount of money typically not covered by your insurance in order to get your vehicle back.”
The same ring was charged for a similar scheme which saw vehicles taken under false pretenses and delivered to California Collision in San Bernardino.
Local motorists who believe they may be a target of the scheme are encouraged to verify the tow truck company with their insurer.
Alternatively, they can wait for the California Highway Patrol to confirm that they dispatched the tow truck.
It’s also advisable to refrain from signing any documents until the tow truck company has been confirmed.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said: “This type of scam is preying on drivers at their most vulnerable moments—immediately after an accident—when they should be focused on their safety and next steps, not fighting to get their vehicle back.
“Our department is committed to protecting Californians from fraud.”
Drivers are also advised to look out for four major red flags if they’re involved in a traffic accident:
Tow trucks that arrive moments after an accident, even if you haven’t called Tow truck driver tells victim which body shop their car is going to Tow truck driver informs victim that someone will call or asks for a signature Tow truck driver requests a ride share for the victimThis comes as a new South Carolina bill specifies that drivers who are caught smoking with children under the age of 12 in the car can be fined $100 for exposing them to secondhand smoke.
Democratic Senator Darrell Jackson pushed for this bill, arguing that parents should have consequences for exposing their children to secondhand smoke.
“I can’t imagine as a parent not knowing the danger of secondhand smoke,” Jackson told Queen City News.
The Center for Disease Control states that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and that inhaling secondhand smoke may lead to premature death.
“I researched and found that there are several states that have passed bills prohibiting smoking in vehicles with children,” Jackson continued.
The states Jackson referenced include: Arkansas, California Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia.
And elsewhere, a little-known law in California means AI vehicles are safe from receiving tickets – even if they’re double-parked.
Waymo vehicles, which are programmed to find a safe spot to pull over before picking up or dropping off passengers, are at times forced to double-park.
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
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