Towing Issues: Paying for Towing When I Never Got Towed., tow truck driver, washington state patrol

Question
Does Washington State have a law where I don’t have to pay the tow company if my vehicle has not yet been hooked up? I was parked in a no parking zone and a police officer called it in because I had my back left tire on the pavement. when I came back to my car to move it (25 min after parking it) The police officer stopped me and said my car was going to be towed. The officer had a form all filled out and handed it to me, but then took it back (this putting a red flag in my head) after the officer stalled me for about 10 min the Tow Truck finally got there. The officer went up to the tow guy and had him sign the same document he had handed me earlier and took back. It was only then the officer allowed me to walk up to my car. The tow guy said I had to pay him $175.00 right now or he was going to tow my car. Later I overheard the officer talking with tow truck driver saying he cannot take the car unless this document was signed. Can an officer keep me back from moving my car for no reason other than waiting for the tow truck? Please let me know if you need  more information. I really felt I was taken advantage of.

Answer
Well its been over 20 years since I worked in the Seattle area so I might be a bit off on Washington State laws, and I wish to say that each City can and some have adopted the rates set by Washington State Patrol for towing vehicles. Those rates are hourly based with a 1 hour minimum in the most part.

Now if you had parked illegally as you say was done with the tire in a no parking area, and the police became involved, then it does generate a police report, a tow incident number and the associated paperwork for the tow. Yes the state requires that Police officers do a vehicle form with all kinds of information on it and it includes sections for the tow truck driver to sign (I am sorry that I can not remember the form number)

Now it does seem that the officer might of just went a bit to far with not letting you move the vehicle and cancel the tow truck, but depending on the reasons or laws which it was being towed for, it still seems legal. Now the 10 minutes of stalling seems a bit much, but it always does seem like a long time when you are waiting.

Now back to legal or not, if the tow truck driver is on scene and has signed the form, then yes you are required to pay the tow fee which sounds about right (the 175.00) because they are there and legally required to tow it or get paid when they have signed the form. I know, stupid but legal.

Now the best part about Washington State is that they have a form - procedure where you can contest the reason for tow, the tow its self or things like that. You should be able to get that from either the tow company, the police department or WSP online (that might be wrong). Its a towing hearing form, and when you do that you will get a chance to have a hearing(like small claims court) in which you can plead your story and see if the hearing officer (s) agree.

Now as to "legally preventing you from moving your car" only the hearings officer or judge" can rule as to legal or not, I really have no idea what the outcome would be, but it does sound a little promising for you on my side. But then again I am not the one who is 100% up to date on the rules in Washington State..

Hope this helps,