Towing Issues: What do I do now, right hand man, tow yard

Question
Hello.  My name is Jessie Omine.  My convertible was towed from the Marina Inn in San Diego (on Pacific Highway).  The manager of the motel told me I had to pay for another day, move my car or he would have it towed away.  I asked if I could have until 1:00pm or 2:00pm to move my car.  He gave me until 1:00pm.  The keys to my car were left in another girls room and she was not there to let me in to get the keys.  I called my husband (we are in the middle of a divorce) to ask him for the spousal support ($2,000) in which he was overdue to pay me by one month.  I spoke to him and asked if he could at least give me the $90.00 to pay for another day at the motel.  I told him that they were going to tow my car unless I paid $90.00.  He said "tough shit" and hung up on me.  Unfortunately, I was not able to come up with the money nor move the car so it was towed.  I called the tow yard (City Wide Towing) to inquire about the cost of retrieving my car and I was told it was $350.00 to get my car back.  I explained my situation of the man I spoke to and he said call back on Monday and speak to Dorothy who is the General Manager.  He said she would be the only one who could help and it would probably be cheaper on Monday than Saturday to get the car back.  I called Monday morning and Dorothy was far from helpful in fact she was downright rude.  She said there was nothing she could do and that now it was $490.00 to get my car back.  She suggested that I leave a message for the owner.  I left a message where he could reach me; in fact, I left repeated messages but never received a call back.  Finally, on a Friday I called and Armando (the owner) answered the phone.  We spoke and I told him my situation (being in the middle of a divorce, losing my job and being financially indigent).  He said there might be something we can work out.  He told me to come down to the tow yard, have sex with his son and his right-hand man and they would give me back my car.  I didn't know what to do or think.  I didn't have the money to get my car back and I desperately needed my car.  I asked him if he wanted me to actually have sex with them or was he simply trying to find out if his son and right-hand man were giving cars back to girls in exchange for sex.  He said he not only wanted me to come down to the tow yard and have sex with them there but he wanted to know exactly what it was that I would do with them. He said he was leaving to go on a trip to Kauai with his wife that night and if they (his son and right-hand man) did not give me my car back that I could call him on Monday and he would give it back to me.  I got off the phone and was very shaken and confused.  I needed my car and all my belongings that was in the car, too, but I did not want to do what he was offering.  Something about his offer did not sit well with me.  How did he know what I look like?  As far as he knew I was a 300lb. bald toothless woman)?  In actuality I am somewhat attractive and have been known to have sex for less than $2,000.00 (afterall, my exhusband got laid after dinner, drinks and a movie).  Nonetheless, something about his offer did not sit right with me.  I couldn't help but think that maybe they were doing this to other women, too.  I was also fearful of what could happen to a 5'2", 115lb. female alone in a locked tow yard so I decided to not go.  I called on Monday.  Dorothy answered the phone and I left a message with a phone number for the owner to call me back. Days go by and no call back.  Finally, I call again and Dorothy answered the phone; I lost the car.  She said that the lien went through and lost your car.  I inquired about all my belongings were gone as well as other things.  Please help.  I don't know what if anything I can do to help.

Answer
Jessie,
I'm sorry about your car. That really sucks. By law, though, a tow company has to allow you in to their facility to at least retrieve your personal belongings that were left in the vehicle. The requests for sex in exchange for getting your car out absolutely sound like harassment to me. Go to the Department of Motor Vehicles on Derrick Drive in Clairemont and ask to speak to Chuck Quinlivan. Tell him that you want to file a formal complaint against City Wide Towing. Tell him that I sent you, as well. Also, you can call the San Diego District Attorney's task force on tow operators at (619)531-4070 and request that they send you information on how to file a complaint. Tell everybody exactly what happened. This also sounds like a good one for the news media. Perhaps City Wide Towing has had other people like yourself who have complained about similar situations. It sounds to me like they need to be turned in for extortion, at a minimum.