ExpertLaw.com Forums

Can a Tow Truck Guy Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's Not Off the Ground

Printable View

  • 11-03-2010, 11:09 PM
    meggy_87
    Can a Tow Truck Guy Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's Not Off the Ground
    My question involves towing laws for the State of: CA

    I was parked in a fire zone at an apartment complex where there are no loading zones for me to park in and no close open parking spots (so I know that is illegal parking) but i was only parked there for about 5 mins while I loaded a tv into my car. After I put the tv in my car i walked back upstairs to lock up the house and came back down 5 mins later and a tow truck guy had started loading my car up, it was still on the ground and he charged me $92 to get him to let it go. Is that right? Or does the car have to be fully lifted off the ground for him to charge me? He wasn't even done attaching everything and I tried talking to him but he was really rude.
  • 11-03-2010, 11:18 PM
    That Guy
    Re: If a Tow Truck Guy Can Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's No Off the Ground
    Quote:

    Quoting meggy_87
    View Post
    My question involves towing laws for the State of: CA

    I was parked in a fire zone at an apartment complex where there are no loading zones for me to park in and no close open parking spots (so I know that is illegal parking) but i was only parked there for about 5 mins while I loaded a tv into my car. After I put the tv in my car i walked back upstairs to lock up the house and came back down 5 mins later and a tow truck guy had started loading my car up, it was still on the ground and he charged me $92 to get him to let it go. Is that right? Or does the car have to be fully lifted off the ground for him to charge me? He wasn't even done attaching everything and I tried talking to him but he was really rude.

    Sounds legit...

    California Vehicle Code section 22658
    (h) A towing company may impose a charge of not more than one-half of the regular towing charge for the towing of a vehicle at the request of the owner, the owner's agent, or the person in lawful possession of the private property pursuant to this section if the owner of the vehicle or the vehicle owner's agent returns to the vehicle after the vehicle is coupled to the tow truck by means of a regular hitch, coupling device, drawbar, portable dolly, or is lifted off the ground by means of a conventional trailer, and before it is removed from the private property. The regular towing charge may only be imposed after the vehicle has been removed from the property and is in transit.
  • 11-05-2010, 11:51 AM
    midevilco
    Re: Can a Tow Truck Guy Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's Not Off the Ground
    It may be legal, but next time get in the car and refuse to get out. He can still get you for half the tow fee, but you can waste his entire night, and if he is a smart tow truck driver (an oxymoron?) he will figure it out and give up.
  • 11-05-2010, 12:44 PM
    in2fords
    Re: Can a Tow Truck Guy Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's Not Off the Ground
    or the tow truck driver will simply call the cops. You cant just jump in the car and expect to sit there untill the tow truck gives up and goes home.
  • 11-06-2010, 01:06 AM
    midevilco
    Re: Can a Tow Truck Guy Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's Not Off the Ground
    Quote:

    Quoting in2fords
    View Post
    or the tow truck driver will simply call the cops. You cant just jump in the car and expect to sit there untill the tow truck gives up and goes home.

    The law says he can get you for half of the price of the tow. Might as well be a jerk, get your moneys worth, and waste his whole night imo.
  • 11-06-2010, 01:29 AM
    cbg
    Re: Can a Tow Truck Guy Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's Not Off the Ground
    You're so sure that the tow truck driver won't just call the cops so that he can go about his business and the op wastes his entire night in the police station? I'm not.
  • 11-07-2010, 04:03 PM
    rb271
    Re: Can a Tow Truck Guy Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's Not Off the Ground
    Quote:

    Quoting cbg
    View Post
    You're so sure that the tow truck driver won't just call the cops so that he can go about his business and the op wastes his entire night in the police station? I'm not.

    I am not endorsing this approach, but if the OP did stubbornly sit in his car, and the cops came, what could the OP be charged with?
  • 11-07-2010, 05:17 PM
    CourtClerk
    Re: Can a Tow Truck Guy Charge to to Unhook Your Car if It's Not Off the Ground
    Disobeying a lawful order if the cops ordered him out of the vehicle and he refused.

    Resisting arrest if it got serious enough.
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:10 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.4
Copyright © 2023 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 - 2018 ExpertLaw.com, All Rights Reserved