A DRIVER was forced to fork out a cool $200 because his parking sticker was in the wrong spot – and the bill is increasing every day
Tishawn Tillman from Hartford, Connecticut, made the costly mistake of placing his parking sticker on the driver’s side window instead of on the windshield – which led to his car being towed.
GettyA resident’s misplaced parking sticker led to a $200 towing fee and the bill keeps growing daily[/caption] GettyA man’s car was towed after he placed his parking sticker on the driver’s side window instead of the windshield[/caption]The towing ordeal highlights the need for clearer rules and inspired a law giving drivers 72 hours to fix small mistakes
According to Courant, Tillman had recently moved to a new apartment when he received a parking sticker for its private lot.
But unsure where to place it, he stuck it on the driver’s side window instead of the windshield.
Less than a month later, his car was unexpectedly towed by Cross Country Automotive – with the towing company claiming they didn’t see the sticker.
Tillman, though, argues that there were no instructions on where to place the sticker.
He told reporters: “There is absolutely no legal documentation in my lease that says that this has to be strictly on the windshield.”
Now, a new law has come into force to help people like Tillman, which forces the towing company to warn car owners within 72 hours to get a new sticker and place it in the right spot.
It also means towing companies have to get permission from the apartment complex to tow a vehicle unless it’s blocking traffic or parked in a fire lane.
Tillman added that, as he was certain he hadn’t broken the law, he assumed his vehicle had been stolen.
“I asked them, ‘Did you see my sticker?’ And they said, ‘We didn’t see the sticker,” he added.
He said he called the apartment manager, but he wouldn’t help.
“When I realized that neither of the parties were going to budge on the matter, I told them that I wasn’t going to pay the fine, even if I had the money, which I didn’t at the time,” Tillman said.
The bill, which he says was “$200 but growing every day,” led to him filing a complaint with the attorney general’s office.
They unsuccessfully tried to resolve the issue through its voluntary mediation program, and they later recommended he complain to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Sal Sena, Cross Country’s owner, submitted a letter to the attorney general saying there are signs all over the parking lot explaining the rules.
The apartment manager, Jack Matos, wrote to the attorney general that he talked with Sena about giving TIllman a discount on the towing fees.
Matos wrote: “I reiterated that Tishawn needs to make sure that it’s placed on the windshield.”
Tillman eventually gave up on trying to get his car back, adding: “I went from being a self-made young man with his own apartment and car to having to burn a hole in my pocket just to get to and from work on ride-share services like Uber and Lyft.”
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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