QuestionMy car was backed into a parking space in my apartment complex. I heard my alarm go off so when I went to check, my car was gone. At this time I thought my car was stolen. I called the police and they came out, however at the time they arrived I saw a tow truck towing someone car. I ask the tow driver if my car was towed and he said yes he towed it because it was backed into a parking space and that is illegal. I had never heard of that before. My apt complex didn't let no one know they were doing this. I had to come out of $200.00 for something I wasn't aware of. Should I get reimbursed by the apt complex. And there were several cars backed into parking spaces and my car and another car was the only ones taken. Who do I talk to about this. I live in Houston,Texas?
AnswerWell I will address the backed in issue first here, legal or not from a law point, it most likely is addressed in the lease - rental agreement you signed when you rented the apartment... It is very typical for the lease to cover many things like this...
The apartment it sounds like also has the tow company "patrol - cruise" the lot looking for violations... This is also very common practice in many areas and it is a big problem in Houston from what I understand. (youtube shows many videos of this kind of stuff)
Now the amount charged is not real bad from what I have heard for that area, but I know that does not help you there..
Now as to the other vehicles parked illegally, I am kind of reminded of a statement from a state trooper when asked why he stopped one vehicle for speeding out of a huge line of speeders...
"EVER BEEN FISHING ??? and EVER CATCH ALL THE FISH ??? "
Talk to the apartment management, but it sounds like you have done that already. If you really feel that you were still wronged then you can always go to small claims court... But in going back to the lease agreement, you might lose if it is written there about backing in to the spaces.
