QuestionI live in Beaverton OR and park near a Tri met max station. Near the station is a large parking lot with some stalls having numbers on them and others do not. There area few buisnesses within the parking area. I would say the nearest buisness is about 150 feet away. There is pleanty of parking in the area which never is filled. There are no signs posted which say or lead one to blieve that parking is not permitted within a given area. People park and then get on the max. To my surprise one afternoon I cant find my car. I call the police and the officer tells me the car has been impounded by some towing Co. I ask if I had broken any laws and he replies no. Was I parked in a wrong place, if so how would I have known, considering there where no signs.
I call the towing company and they tell me that I was parked on private property and they have an agreement with the buisness owners to tow cars away. I proceed to tell him that there are no signs posted. He tells me someone may have torn them down. He then proceeds to tell me that if I want my car back it will cost me $250 cash. Who do I turn too for help. How am I suppose to know I cant park somewhere if there are no signs posted? Can they tow my car without someone calling and asking to tow it? If I pay can I still contest the charges? If so to who?
Any help would be well appreciated.
Answer
Well I miss riding Max and when I moved from Oregon (1998) they were just finishing the west side system, so I never got to ride though the tunnel under the west hills...
Now unfortunately for you, it seems that you were not in an "authorized park and ride lot" (listed below) and as such were parked on "private property"
Now as to the tow company being called to tow the vehicle, yes they do that all the time I bet and there is someone at the location who has to sign for the tows... In that manner there is a person who determined that the vehicle was illegally parked and as such had it removed..
Tow signs, well they are usually at the entrances to the parking lots, and as such they are also vandalized or removed by irate people who think if there is no sign then they will get the money back... Sorry to say that does not happen very often...
I used to tow in the Portland area (blue tow trucks near the Rose Garden) and would replace signs on a daily basis in many of our lots we towed from due to vandalism.
Asking for Cash, well that is a pretty standard practice as checks, credit cards and debit cards all can be cancelled or disputed. Cash can not be cancelled or revoked.
Complaining, well the City of Beaverton (if you were in the City limits) as some rules regarding the towing of vehicles from private parking lots. I used to have the link to it but after a few computer crashes I lost lots of my links..
Check with the Police department and see what ORS (Oregon revised Statue) affects the towing of vehicles and what the local rules are also...
But remember you also have the right to go though the Small Claims Court to recover your expenses if you want to.
Beaverton Park and Ride lots
Beaverton Creek
SW 153rd Ave. & Millikan Wy., Beaverton 97006
Bethel Congregational Church
5150 SW Watson Ave., Beaverton 97005
Elmonica/SW 170th Ave
1200 SW 170th Ave., Beaverton 97006
Millikan Way
SW Millikan Wy. & 141st Ave./Shannon Pl., Beaverton 97005
Quatama/NW 205th Ave
350 NW 205th Ave., Beaverton 97006
Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Beaverton
14645 SW Davis Rd., Beaverton 97007
Somerset Christian Church
16255 NW Bronson Rd., Beaverton 97006
Southminster Presbyterian Church
12250 SW Denney Rd., Beaverton 97008
Sunset TC Parking Garage
10470 SW Barnes Rd., Beaverton 97225
Willow Creek/SW 185th Ave TC
SW 185th Ave. & Edgeway Dr., Beaverton 97006
