Under what circumstances would you call a tow truck on some rando parked in front of your garage?

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@Whorpio
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Got home from dinner last night and someone was parked in front of my garage.

I called a tow company but the people moved before the truck got here. So since they left I parked my car in the garage.

3 hours later I take my dog for a potty and see the car parked there again.

I didn’t know if I should call the tow company again. Although they were blocking me in my garage I didn’t need to go anywhere last night or today. Plus I have access to a different vehicle if there was an emergency (though the vehicle has spiders in it and I’ve almost crashed when a spider started crawling on me in the past 😬)

Idk. What would y’all do? If you didn’t have to go anywhere would you still get a car towed if it was in your spot or blocking you in?
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@Whorpio
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Posted by LittleStar_II

Put a note on the car asking them to park elsewhere so you can leave if need be.

If they do it again call.

So what I did was call the tow company again and while waiting I put a note on the car just in case they did move it again, but I guess they were parked for the night because the tow company ended up getting it before it could be moved.

I will say I had a feeling of guilt as soon as I saw the tow truck driving it away. I was like “Fuck Whorpio what did you just do??”

Then this morning I was woken up at 8AM by someone knocking on my door. I didn’t answer because I was tired af and I also wasn’t prepared for an altercation in case things got messy.

An hour later I took my dog out and saw this random dude in exercise gear hanging around the garages but he didn’t talk to me and instead disappeared as my back was turned for a few seconds so I figured maybe he lives in my building and I’ve just never seen him before.

Fast forward to lunch time and I’m going to go get takeout. As I’m pulling out of my garage I see that same dude standing on the grass next to my garage and he’s on the phone.

It was strange.
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@Whorpio
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Posted by Sith_Rogen

That's just a pretty liberal law. Most places you need to call the police first. Even if it is considered private property.

@_dazed Yeah that’s one reason I felt bad as they were pulling away, because it all seemed sort of sketch (their lights were off and they hooked the car up so silently and they seemed excited after I “proved” it’s my garage).

After it was gone I got online to read reviews of the tow company and people were complaining they illegally tow and that tow trucks are supposed to file a police report when they tow an illegally parked vehicle but this company doesn’t and that it’s hard to track down your vehicle after they take it. It made me feel even worse. So if the car owners try to contact me again I think I’ll offer to pay their towing fees.
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@Whorpio
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Posted by LittleStar_II
Posted by _Dazed

There's something more to this story.

I got my car towed from my apartment once and I had tied my pass up with a super tight rubber band and suddenly it got towed without warning and when I went to pick it up they said I didn’t have it and then found it in the glove box and I had never touched it.

My guess is I didn’t lock it and they felt like getting some money. Anyway I paid $ 400 after arguing with them for about an hour.

I don’t trust those bishes.
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Even if you did lock it I’m sure they can unlock it because that’s another thing I read about the tow company responsible for my community: they steal belongings. I also read a review where they helped someone unlock their car because they had locked their keys inside. So I’m sure these tow companies have the tools to unlock most vehicles.
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Dazed
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Posted by WarAngel
Posted by Whorpio
Posted by Sith_Rogen

That's just a pretty liberal law. Most places you need to call the police first. Even if it is considered private property.

@_dazed Yeah that’s one reason I felt bad as they were pulling away, because it all seemed sort of sketch (their lights were off and they hooked the car up so silently and they seemed excited after I “proved” it’s my garage).

After it was gone I got online to read reviews of the tow company and people were complaining they illegally tow and that tow trucks are supposed to file a police report when they tow an illegally parked vehicle but this company doesn’t and that it’s hard to track down your vehicle after they take it. It made me feel even worse. So if the car owners try to contact me again I think I’ll offer to pay their towing fees.

I wouldn't, it's their fault they parked the car there.
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@VenusAquarius
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I've had this problem.

#1 I have knocked on doors...

#2 I leave a note usually asking them for reflection, stating that I could tow, and how much $ I saved them. Was it worth it? What do you think these numbered spaces mean?

I got creative with time and enjoyed the note leaving, LOL. Started rhyming n' shit... Gem Moon problems, lol.
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SelenaKyle
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Posted by Sith_Rogen
Posted by Whorpio
Posted by Sith_Rogen

So a private citizen can call a tow company where you live and just have any random car towed?

No you have to prove they are in your spot. Like they made me present my garage clicker to verify it’s my garage.

That's just a pretty liberal law. Most places you need to call the police first. Even if it is considered private property.
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If it's an apartment community its considered as if they are parked in a red no parking zone, espeiclaly if the garage building has a no parking sign. Most places will not allow cars to park in front of the garage doors. It will get towed, espcially if the person whos garage it is calls.
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SelenaKyle
@justagirl
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Posted by Sith_Rogen
Posted by justagirl
Posted by Sith_Rogen
Posted by Whorpio
Posted by Sith_Rogen

So a private citizen can call a tow company where you live and just have any random car towed?

No you have to prove they are in your spot. Like they made me present my garage clicker to verify it’s my garage.

That's just a pretty liberal law. Most places you need to call the police first. Even if it is considered private property.

If it's an apartment community its considered as if they are parked in a red no parking zone, espeiclaly if the garage building has a no parking sign. Most places will not allow cars to park in front of the garage doors. It will get towed, espcially if the person whos garage it is calls.

I mean, that part makes sense, but I'd imagine it would still need to be property management that needs to call it in like back in Indiana when I lived in an apartment. Giving the ability to have cars towed by essentially random private individuals is a situation ripe with abuse given how aggressive and predatory towing companies are. We've had armed showdowns here in Charlotte over cars being towed and booted in questionable circumstances.
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Dam, out here, it’s in the lease plus it has to be clearly marked- red curbs, no parking signs, parking in handicap spaces without proper permits, reserved assigned parking stalls, etc.

Most Property management companies will give consent to specific situations that a specific tow company is allowed to tow cars. They can’t just randomly drive through a complex and tow. But I will mention that most that do this type of stuff don’t care that in essence they are breaking the law lol recently had the same car picked up from the same handicap stall twice in a Week. 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️
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@Whorpio
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Posted by Sith_Rogen

I mean, that part makes sense, but I'd imagine it would still need to be property management that needs to call it in like back in Indiana when I lived in an apartment. Giving the ability to have cars towed by essentially random private individuals is a situation ripe with abuse given how aggressive and predatory towing companies are. We've had armed showdowns here in Charlotte over cars being towed and booted in questionable circumstances.

I think it may vary by state.

As far as I know management only gets involved if it’s a fire lane, visitor parking, or a parking spot anyone can park in. But if it’s a numbered spot a resident pays for or in my case a garage it’s the residents responsibility to decide if it’s a problem or not, especially when it happens when the front office is closed.

(Though in the case of numbered spots I heard tow trucks will drive around making sure each car is registered to the spot they’re parked in, but I think the legality of that is questionable).

@justagirl The places I’ve stayed at with garages are designed in a way so there is parking in front of the garage too, and then a fire lane is drawn at the end of the space there. But I have heard of places with detached garages and those you cannot park in front of.