Towing Issues: Illegal Tow, tow yard, condo rules

Question
QUESTION: Dear Lisa,
I live in Miramar, FL (Broward County). My car was towed inside my condominium on a Thursday night about a month ago. According to the condo rules, a green sticker needs to be attached to the rear driver windshield which I did. When I went to pay ($125) to pick up my car from the impound the next morning, they told me the sticker was supposed to be located on the front which was not true as I was later told by the condo association manager. They also told me that my having tinted windows could have also confused them! I was recently told that the association has no funds to reimburse me. What should I do? I have pictures and witnesses to confirm that I had a permit all along.

Best Regards,
Jorge

ANSWER: WOW!! Contact the wrecker administrator of the local law enforcement. Get a letter from the complex. "They also told me that my having tinted windows could have also confused them!" A mandatory flash light should have made it clear as day. I do know a very special female who is working with Broward County on rules & regulations. I think the property manager had to sign for your car to be towed away to begin with. Check www.municode.com go to the library and pull up the towing laws. I'm sure no one would break the law and sign a stack of blank forms ahead of time! You may want to ask if the manager pointed out your vehicle to be towed.. The law is on your side. Get EVERYTHING in writing, I feel certain they will refund your money, perhaps even the taxi or amounts you paid a friend to take you to their tow yard. It's sad when companies go out and do things like this and then when we try to HELP a motorist everyone run to their vehicles afraid we will act like a 'tow-a-way' company. I hope you'll find this helpful and use this information and not give up. Fight for your legal rights.Keep fighting till you get your money back for the tow, if you missed work, paid someone to take you to claim your vehicle, every dime this has cost you.

Sorry this happened to you.
Lisa
www.TallahasseeTowing.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Lisa,
Thank you for your answer. I'm having trouble finding info about the wrecker administrator here. Don't know where to look. I did contact the Broward County Consumer Protection supervisor and he told me that they can only address the fee I was charged by the towing company which is what the County authorizes ($124). He advised to resolve this private matter in court where they can determine if I was properly towed. What do you suggest? Should I still get that letter from the complex? Can you help me finding the wrecker administrator?

Best regards,
Jorge

Answer
I just happened to be talking about this tow today with someone who writes the rules & regs. Get the letter from your complex. Do you pay HOA fee's?  Try looking under www.municode.com, go to library and then under towing laws in Broward County. If you will, please e-mail me & give me the name of your complex & the company who towed you. I'd like to pass it along to the person working on rules and regs with Broward County. She also let me know how you can go about getting your money back.

As far as who to talk with, it would seem as if anyone within the department should be able to tell you who this is can tell you the name of the wrecker admin., they are the ones who inspect the wreckers to be on rotation? E-mail me at TallahasseeTowing@comcast.net
Thanks,
Lisa