QuestionI was parked in an assigned parking spot in an apartment complex in Seattle Wa. The next thing I know they tow my car away, and the tow people charge me $323 for the tow and $95 a day. This seems like robbery to me, is there a cap or any limits to what they can charge, or can they just charge whatever they feel like.
AnswerWell this sounds a bit high to me, but then again Washington state has some good laws and some poor laws.
Towing from Private property is generally unregulated in the rates which can be charged. Now I do have to say that some tow companies in Washington do charge rates which are allowed under the contracts they have with Washington State Patrol. But since towing from Private Property is different than towing as ordered by Police departments and unregulated you will have higher rates.
Now the police ordered tows are usually done on an hourly rate - charge, you can have higher charges is it takes more than the 1 hour minimum rate, 1 hour 2 minutes would be charged as 1 1/4 hours.
I can not tell if they charged the hourly rates or a hook up and mileage charge with possible extra equipment such as dollies. You have the invoice and I am guessing here.
Now as to the $95.00 a day, if that is for storage on a car that is very high to what I know should be normal.
There might be some charges for an after hours gate - release fee if the vehicle was paid for and picked up outside normal office business hours (normal is 8 to 5, monday though Friday)
You can be charged more after hours.
But basic answer here is unless there are specific regulations for Seattle that I have not found or aware of (I try to keep up on all the laws across the US in order to answer questions here) then they can charge what they want.
Sorry to not have specific information for you .
