Towing Issues: Unlawful garage towing in Arlington County, car license plate, falls church virginia

Question
Hi Richard,

I have signed a contract with a covered garage parking service at my work building (in Falls church, Virginia in Arlington County). The paperwork required to park includes very detailed information about my car, license plate, license #. They issued me a transponder for the gate, and I pay in advance every month. They mail out a hanging tag every month that you have to display. My tag fell down and the contracted towing company towed me. I went to the garage office and explained that I had paid for the full month (as I have each month without fail for over a year)but they said I was in violation and there was nothing I could do. When I picked up my car, the charge was $100 PLUS a $35 special equipment fee. I am so angry. Is there anything I can do? It is very shady.

Answer
This question gets asked all the time. Hanging tags are a blessing and a problem when it comes to use.

First they get in the way when driving and cut your viability. So you take them down and put them somewhere they are hidden or not visible to see the numbers and such.

And of course they also can break and fall off the mirror and end up on the floor..

Now when I did tow aways, I would take the time to look at cars which I knew had tags and permits and look in the areas around and below where they used to be. Call me stupid (a lot of other tow drivers did) but I would tend not to tow them if I knew they had a permit and I could see it or the shape of it on the floor or where ever.

BUT I was just one of 4 other drivers per shift who used to patrol the lots looking for violations. Yes we were working on commission and that meant I would cut my own pay to be nice, and cover mistakes by the vehicle owners. BUT others were out for the money.

Now as to what to do, of course you have the small claims court route if you feel wronged. But remember that most tow companies do take pictures of the vehicle in violation or are required to by local rules and regulations. That being said, you most likely will have big problems fighting this.
Now as to the fees, they are not real bad from what I know of that areas rates. The special equipment fees most likely were for "DOLLIES" which are the small wheels you see on tow trucks. They allow for the vehicle to be towed from the rear (lifted at that end) since you are nosed into the parking space, and they put the dollies under the front end and they lift the vehicles tires up and allow for it to roll freely. This way the vehicle (which in most cases is a front wheel drive) to not have any damage done to the transmission and drivetrain.


I know that this is most likely not the answers you wanted to hear, but it just does not look like you have a very good chance of winning on this one.