A DRIVER has been slapped with a ridiculous $339 towing fee after escaping a dangerous car pile-up caused by 60 crashes.
Kyle Zardo was stranded in between wrecks when cops forced him to abandon his car and call for a tow.
The driver, who was on a highway about two hours north of Toronto, Canada, sat idle in his car for three hours until the police came, he told Orillia Matters.
Highway cops were desperately trying to assess the carnage caused by a series of crashes on Friday morning.
Dozens of vehicles were involved in the pileups outside Orillia that left one person dead and 11 hospitalized.
When the police finally reached Zardo’s window, they told him they were escorting him to safety and could call for a tow.
Hours after the collision, Zardo received a phone call from the police, who instructed him to pay the towing company that had seized his vehicle at the scene.
He then realized the service costs a head aching $339 in towing fees.
“I made it clear to the officer that I shouldn’t have to pay for this since I wasn’t in an accident, but he didn’t seem to care,” Zardo said.
“I don’t have $339 to spare. I don’t think it is something I should be responsible for, considering I did them a favour and got out of their way,” he added.
Zardo was not the only one in this predicament — at least a dozen other drivers were facing the same ridiculous fee.
The Orillia resident was especially frustrated after the authorities denied Zardo from pursuing low-cost options to remove the vehicle.
First, he offered to pick up his car instead of waiting for the towing company, but the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said that would not be allowed.
Then, he offered to organize his own tow truck, which would have been covered under his free roadside assistance.
However, that was also shot down by OPP.
Instead, the officer suggested that Zardo go through his insurance to get the vehicle towed.
However, Zardo — like many other drivers — was aware that most insurance companies don’t cover towing costs unless the driver was in an accident.
Since Zardo was not involved in the accident himself, he would be paying out of pocket.
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
As a last-ditch effort, the driver asked if he could simply wait in his vehicle, but the OPP said he would be forcibly “removed” eventually.
“I’m frustrated […] I just don’t see how any of this makes sense,” Zardo said.
This happened in two other cities in Ontario, according to Zardo.
However, in those cases, the towing bill was covered for those who were left stranded.
OPP released a statement defending the cops’ actions after the crashes.
“In response to the incident on Highway 11, the Ontario Provincial Police always prioritizes public safety when managing such situations,” said police media relations officer Sergeant Jake Daynes.
“After evaluating the circumstances, we determined that the safest course of action was to transport all drivers who were stranded in the area to Rotary Place, where they were provided with food and warmth.”
“While evacuation protocols may vary from incident to incident, the core priority remains consistent: ensuring the safety and well-being of the public,” Daynes added.
While Zardo feels the OPP should have the budget to cover these expenses, the Orillia authorities said that is not in their control.
The City of Orillia did not reply to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
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