The following are a few of the more common laws that some towing companies break. All of us know tha...

1. The Methods That Tow Trucks Employ To Illegally Impound
Cars
The following are a few of the more common laws that some towing companies break. All of us know
that sometimes it appears there are just to many laws, but we're happy that the majority of these
laws exist because they are protecting us from damage. Our purpose here will be to educate the
general public about practices that are illegal by some towing firms which can be bad for the
general public in general. This advice isn't to be taken as legal advise as laws vary and change by
place. Our area of expertise is southern California. The amount of harm to the people can vary from
even to offenses against customers and wrongfully towed vehicles to tow motorists that are
uninsured. At the conclusion of this post is going to be some hints which can be followed to reduce
the risk of exposure to these illegal tow practices.
Other issues that come up are disputes to disputes about cost equity, a towed vehicle or changes in
cost after the vehicle was towed. Sometimes people will likely be approached by means of a tow
driver plus they think when the driver not, he's him which they called. Storage rates are another
area of common dispute. Tow drivers are occasionally not correctly licensed to drive the kind of tow
truck they are driving. Lets investigate these individual issues one at a time and see what is going on
out in the roads.
Beginning together with the most popular problem of vehicles being towed wrongfully we must say
there's some grey Towing San Diego area. The laws allow for the impounding and removal of
illegally parked vehicles on both private and public property. Most of the disputes will arise out of
private property impounds business centres, shopping centers, such as apartment complex's and
similar. When parking is not easy to find people get impatient and creative. By law signs must notify
you of the chance of impound and towing, but they're not required over every space. The area of
dispute arises on parking lots for everyone.
Some areas are towing vehicles with out waiting the required 1 hour span while others you'll be able
to get away with parking illegally for 1 hour, in a public lot. Not all places have exactly the same
interpretation of exactly what there is a lot that is public. Many impounds in private lots such as for
example a gated apartment complex come from people thinking they are able to just run in for
another while parked illegally. Beware, your car might be hooked up and leaving faster than most
folks can drink a soda. Towing and impound fees are steep, normally beginning at around $250. If
you retrieve your car right away and follow it. Most apartment complexes require individuals to
record their car plate number on their lease and even a buddy you enable to work with your area
can be towed. For impound towing some businesses are exceedingly aggressive and tend not to obey
the laws plus it may be next to impossible to verify which they violated the law.
The more precious the things are and the smaller they are the more apt to be stolen. Items that
would be common items to disappear might be cameras, mobile phones, ipod's, stereo gear, money,
CD's, and lap top's. Not all tow companies have required background and drug testing to reduce the
likelihood of theft. Not all tow companies are companies that are reputable.
Towed vehicle damage is another area consumers can be hurt. Damages to your vehicle can occur
when equipment isn't properly kept. Firms which have little regard for the laws that regulate towing
gear will buy cables chains, and hooks that aren't rated as required by law because they are
cheaper. Those same type of businesses are apt to hire experienced or badly qualified drivers and
may well not have any training programs in position to train drivers on safe practices.

2. Any quality firm is likely to want your repeat business and certainly will rely on an excellent
reputation and is not going to practice this kind of deceit. Notice that there are legitimate motives
for changing the cost such as the client failed to notify the tow company of a significant fact like the
car has no tires. However here is the some what exceptional situation in the towing business. If the
client doesn't cover the tow, the car can be impounded by the tow business, and to get it back you
would have to pay the original tow plus towing impound yard and storage fees. A non reputable tow
business might practice quoting low pricing then try to add even flat out dispute what was quoted or
extras, then endanger impounding when the client does not abide.
Tow businesses are prohibited by California laws from halting in a stranded motorist scenario for the
purpose of soliciting business. It really is a familiar practice though for some businesses try and
solicit and to cease, and some will try to provide a price that is better to get the task, even
http://www.tdlr.texas.gov/towing/towing.htm when the motorist counsels they have a truck on the
way. Some motorists have even simply not told the motorist they are not the firm the motorist called.
California law provides for fees against tow drivers who participate in this task. This activity puts
consumers at risk not or simply because they don't have any method to fast ascertain weather this is
a properly licensed, and insured business. It is also speculative in the stand point of the number of
tow trucks then pulling back out into traffic and would be halting if this practice was legal. There's
also a degree of safety by not allowing just any guy in a tow truck and attempt to sell you on his
service, provided to people. Imagine intimidated your wife or daughter might be if some enormous
filthy man quit and truly wished to get that tow.
Payment options and storage rates in addition to hours of operation of storage facilities are largely
regulated by law. Although the laws are for consumer protection but still do allow for free enterprise
along with the making of a gain. Many people who have their vehicles impounded would state that
the rates charged are not due, and consumers frequently feel ripped off. The only real way to get
cash is whether you can demonstrate that the towing company violated the towing laws. Businesses
that make a practice of abusing consumers in this way are usually not bad at knowing what is
impractical or not possible for a consumer to demonstrate.
Lets look at the driver of the tow truck that will come to rescue you. In California the DMV requires
a special drivers license for specific forms of commercial motorists. Tow businesses need some
drivers with DMV commercial permits and some motorists may not want particular permits.
Additionally motor clubs or some police agencies may have particular conditions that private party
towing does not. This creates a tempting scenario to an unethical company when they're brief on
commercial licensed drivers or drivers with the particular qualifications to do the job correctly and
legally, and could have a driver available who will drive the truck but is not properly licensed to do
so. The unqualified driver will be sent by an unethical company outside simply to get the task.
As of the writing of the article tow truck drivers in California don't require any special permit or
training provided that they do not tow more than one trailer and no more than 26,000 pounds whole
weight of all vehicles, that includes passengers and any thing else that may be in the vehicles. It
follows that family vehicle and nearly every passenger car falls into this class. There's no legal
requirement to drug test or background check tow drivers. This means firms are free to hire
convicted felons, or who ever they want. Now for the good news, motor clubs and some police
agencies do ask for drivers to fulfill some sort of requirements because of their tows, but
enforcement is poor. Any quality tow firm will background check and drug test their drivers as well
as assure the driver is well trained and properly licensed for the tow and truck job they're
performing. A quality tow firm may also have principles that are moral and want their customers to
be safe, hence they might not hire a person convicted of a major crime.

3. Now that you may see the many ways you can be put by an unethical tow business, the general
public in danger of injury, and also your loved ones lets look at some things that you can do in order
to lessen the risk of injury.
1. Question the telephone receptionist a couple of questions. Do you background check refuse to hire
those convicted of major offenses and all of your employees? Can you do regular random drug
testing on all employees? Would you require all motorists to be certified by some industry
recognized training program including CHP training or Wreckmaster ? Is an accurate entire cost
quoted by you prior to doing the tow? Is your firm an associate ? Is it true that your questions are
answered by the secretary politely or look aggravated by your questions. Obviously the one that is
aggravated is the one to prevent.
2. Have you ever seen this company's trucks or employees look like? The unethical and undesirable
businesses will usually fail appearance of equipment vehicles, and employees. Another thing to make
note of if you have seen the employees in action is their language, perspectives, and professionalism.
These are all hints about what type of company you're handling so be observant.
3. Ask the driver upon arrival and before the hook up your car exactly what the charges will likely be
so there's no misunderstanding of the charges. Recall there is a dispute if you don't pay the things
that they ask, they could impound the vehicle and once the hook your auto up.
4. When parking, always obey parking rules even. Conceal and secure if possible any personal
property that is valuable when parked always. Do not take chances and park illegally even for just a
minute.
5. Never accept a tow from a driver that stops to solicit, it's an illegal practice and no quality
business will be out there breaking the law on purpose. Notice that it is legal for a driver if he is
waived down to halt, so if you are within an unsafe or dangerous area you will have to indicate a
driver to permit him to lawfully quit.