QuestionThe apartment complex is garfield commons, located in CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN. My vehicle is one of two which were acknowledged on the lease. Due to a shifting problem (the car only has two gears but is some what driveable), and the fact my license was suspended for three years, the fiero was'nt driven much unless it was to change parking spaces once and awhile. Last year my hours at work were pretty low, so other than gas,washing/waxing BOTH cars recieved the absolute minimal of money infusion. The only real money spent was to update the plates when the apartment complex threatens to tow for a flat tire,or expired plates.(Which was always taken care of when notified.)This year, they put a notice to tow in 48 hrs due to expired plates. (I thought I had till september to reinstate the plate but, confused the van's plate with the fiero.) Regardless.................................................. I DID NOT have money for this crap right now. My rent is due in TWO days!!! I borrow money from two separate cash advance services(600.) purchase the over priced no fault(140.) Pay the jacked up plate fee at secretary of state(118.) and get the fiero all nice and legal like. (I thought!) Next day, I had to work the morning shift unlike my usual nightshift, so i could'nt at least monitor the car. I come home.............................................. The bastards towed the car ANYWAY!!! Adding insult to injury, the clutch slave cylinder was'nt in the car at the time because it was cheaper to try and rebuild it than replace it. Plus,I was waiting for some spare money to replace the clutch master cylinder as well. So....................................................... now the car is in clinton storage (cop impound), costing me $13. a day, STILL owe cash advance $600., and even IF I could get the car out of there I'd have to possibly TOW it out to get it home! I wanna sue the apartment complex for this crap. They have been doing nothing but harassing me and I'm FED UP!!!! They have even put "threaten to tow" stickers on my bicycle!???There are SEVERAL cars around here with expired plates!(Some have tabs YEARS old!???) Theres a crappy neon with FOUR flat tires that has sat roughly the same amount of time as the fiero has and its STILL there!???????? My questions are................................................. Should I take them to small claims or go higher? I believe the secretary of state screwed up because the cops have to check stuff before towing (even though it visually had new tabs), and I remember there computer was acting weird during registration. Can I sue the state? What about the stupid tow company? You'd think they would LOOK at the plate at least before towing. ANY useful help is appreciated. Sorry for the LONG post. Thank you, brian.
AnswerBrian, I really detect a bit of hatred in this question and I see that a lot of it is directed at the tow company for doing what the property management or police officer directed them to do.
I also see that you are not happy with the high insurance rates of your "NO FAULT STATE" (that is a law) and while I can not help you with the amount you had to pay for insurance, a suspended license is not looked upon favorably by insurance companies and the tend to see that as an "increased risk for coverage" and they charge more for it.
Since you have 2 vehicles parked there, and your license has been suspended I have to ask why you would need gas for the vehicles unless you have been driving the vehicles illegally. Remember it sounds like your question is about the "legality of the towing of your vehicles" Be it tagged or not, sometimes vehicles are towed for other reasons including to make a point. I can not answer why yours was towed if it was tagged and legal, but someone, somewhere would know the answer to that.
As to what to do, I am sure you can sue the tow company, the apartment complex, not sure about the state though. It is your rights by law to be able to go though small claims court or in some cases regular court to try and validate the reason for towing and the fees charged.
True the "tow company" could of looked at the plates and most likely did, but it sounds like the property management had the police order the tow, which in some locations is required by city law.
But as a tow truck driver, I got to say that "if the guy with the badge and gun tells me to tow it, then it gets towed" is what most drivers will do. Those are my personal thoughts and practices also.
Hope this helps a bit, but I really have no direction for you to go solve this other than from what I was able to provide you above.
