Towing Issues: Parking in Fire Lane, state lawmaker, tow truck driver

Question
I live in Portland Oregon.  I parked along the curb (designated parking area) in my apartment complex and the bed of my truck was partially parked in the red strip on the curb (fire lane).  I woke up this morning to find my truck was towed.  Is that enough to constitute my truck getting towed?  How much of your vehicle can be parked in the red strip (if any)?  Note even half of my truck was parked in the red.

Answer
Ah, my hometown. I was born and raised there.


Fire lanes are one of those wonderful issues which create problems big time in apartments. Lots of tows for issues just like yours. Partially in the lane is one of the biggest issues.

Now since you were partially in the lane I need to explain the fire lane concept a bit. This regulation is so that the "FIRE TRUCK can safely" travel though the complex without having to dodge or wiggle around corners and such. Yes the 8 foot wide truck needs something like 15 feet wide roads and lanes. Just one of those kind of rules which make no sense.

Now I also know that in Portland there are some very aggressive tow companies who "PATROL - CRUISE" looking for vehicles to tow. And the drivers sometimes get a bit "NITPICKING" in how much of the vehicle is OK or not...

I bet you were following the proposed rules changes in the State recently where they were trying to make it almost impossible to tow vehicles for illegal parking and such. Some of that was good and a lot of it was "typical state laws in reaction to citizen complaints"

But remember one thing that for each complaint to a state lawmaker or City council member there are generally 10 or more which were not done illegally.  

And remember that the tow truck driver did not park the vehicle where it was (ok I will give you SET Towing and their issues) but everyone seems to think that they can park without fear of being towed at times.
Property owners have rights and in many cases laws which they have to follow, just like the fire lane issue which you can look up either via Portland City Code or PFD codes, or even state law.


As to the question how much vehicle would be allowed to be in the fire lane, well that is kind of like "kind of pregnant" or "kind of in an Aircraft crash"   


Hope this helps, if not then feel free to ask more questions.