Towing Issues: Showing up before the tow guy leaves, washington rcw, fire lane

Question
I walked up to the tow truck, and for fifteen minutes asked him to leave my vehicle for me to move myself.  He insisted that he was nearly finished loading it up, and therefore had the right to take it.  He then began to verse me on the laws of fire lane parking (of which I was NOT violating).

Is he still allowed to keep taking my vehicle, even when I show up with the keys, ready to move it myself?

This is in the state of Washington.

Answer
Well from what I see here in the question, their had to be a reason for the tow truck towing the vehicle...

Fire lane violations, well you say it was not violating those rules and he explained the rules for it, kind of makes me think it was in a fire lane...

But as to the original question, if you are there, you can pay for a "drop fee" which is generally 1/2 of the impound fee which would of been charged...

Now if this is on private property and the tow was ordered by the property owner - manager then you usually can get the vehicle back at the location. But if it was towed as per order of the police or fire department then you generally have to get it at the tow company yard.

Washington has some laws regarding towing, which can be found with a search of the "Washington RCW's" for towing online. You can find more information than I can provide answers for, as you were there and I was not... I do not know the specifics of the problem...

But did you offer to pay a fee or did he tell you about the fee, is a question here. Both are part of this answer and I can not provide answers on that part for you.


I do question the 15 minutes which you mentioned, cause most tow companies can hook up and take the vehicles in anywhere from 15 seconds to a couple of minutes.