QuestionQUESTION: the law of baltimore county in maryland says it has to be attached and i want to know attached means fully attached our touching the vehicle or what does it mean. What is the proper terminology of the law and what rights do i have because it states that ifd it is not attached they must release my car.
ANSWER: Are you referring to a wrecker being hooked up to your vehicle? Why was it being towed? Was it a private property impound or police impound?
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QUESTION: it is a private property tow that was not hooked up and it states that the tow truck has to be attached to not be able to get the car back. But my question is what is attached the tow truck pulling it out of the space and then attaching it. Our is it attached when all thing are hooked up to it and it is ready to tow.The law article 24 code 16 number 118 says that it has to be attached to be a valet tow.
AnswerDefinitions vary from state to state. In Texas, if a tow truck is touching a vehicle it is considered attached. In most states if the tow truck or any of it's equipment (ie straps, chains, wheel lift etc) is touching the vehicle then they consider that attached. In most states however, they allow for a drop fee if the owner or person in control of a vehicle is present. A drop fee is reasonable since the tow truck was dispatched to the scene, but towing a vehicle with the owner present is not acceptable unless it is a police impound.
I have included a clip from Prince George county about predatory towing. There is an association in this clip you can contact.
Responding to complaints from consumers about “predatory towing”, the Prince George’s County Council has made it more challenging for automobiles to be towed, even from private property such as condominiums and homeowners associations.
By a vote of 8-1, the County Council passed “County Bill 41-2005" (“CB-41-2005"), proposed by Councilwoman Camille A. Exum (D-Dist 7) of Capital Hill, that requires towing companies to carry more insurance, prohibits towing companies from storing vehicles more than fifteen (15) miles from where it was towed or outside Prince George’s County without the owner’s or operator’s consent. The new law was signed on November 22, 2005. Some specific changes include:
• Before towing a car from private property, the towing company would have to present a “tow slip” approved by the County Police Chief, to the property owner or property owner’s agent. The property owner then must sign the slip before it can be affixed to the vehicle. In the case of a condominium or homeowners association, this means that someone from the Board or the management agent would need to be physically present in order to authorize the tow.
• Tow companies would be required to have at least $5,000 insurance per vehicle covering damage during tows and at least $100,000 in liability insurance per person.
• Need tow slip if vehicle is towed during the hours of 4:00 PM and midnight;
• Limits the cost of a tow not to exceed $100.00 for any vehicle up to 10,000 pounds;
• Allows payment by credit or debit cards when picking up a towed vehicle
• Vehicles cannot be “booted”
For more information on this towing bill, you can contact the Maryland Towing Association whose address is: Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland at (410) 414-5406.
You can also contact the State Attorney General's office, their link is below.
http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/complaint.htm
