Towing Issues: Everett, WA Towing Laws, tow truck equipment, tow driver

Question
When is a vehicle considered "in tow"?  I recently walked out of my friends apt complext to find a tow driver getting ready to hook up my vehicle, evereything was laid out on the ground, but my car wasn't atached to the tow trruck.  I had to pay 190 bucks to get him to basically put his gear away.  I mean if I'm already out there, and nothing has been "attached" to my car, do I really need to pay the guy?  Should I take this to court?  Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Answer
Well this sounds a bit on the edge of a gray area....

But yes in most cases the tow truck charges a fee when he is on the property to tow the vehicle, and while you say things were "laid out on the ground" I really have no idea what you mean by that part as I was not there to see what was happening...

Some tow truck equipment will be on the ground and in the process of being but together and it will look like its not hooked up but it really is...

But at the same time, if the tow truck was hooked to the back of the vehicle and it was a front wheel drive vehicle, then you would be seeing them installing the dollies... And in the case of a lowered or some stock imported vehicles, the dolly bars need to be put under the vehicle before its lifted to prevent the chances of damage.

But the wheel lift part of the tow truck can either be a manual put together type or one which is what we call a self loader (which in basic terms is hooked up once the wheels are touching the lift bar assembly)


I think that the chances of going to court and winning might be hard to do, as it all depends on proof of what was "laying on the ground"

But I have to say, that some of the trucks nowadays which are used in towing, can hook up and have your vehicle in the air and ready to go down the road in less than 15 seconds...


I wish I could help more, but I really do not know what was really happening.