My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Alabama (Jefferson County).

My question involves personal property located in the State of: Alabama (Jefferson County).


Okay, so this happened last month to me. A neighbor friend of mine knocked on my door and told me that someone was towing my car, and now I’m left trying to figure things out so that both my roommate and I can go to work with only one vehicle.

My car was towed from my apartment complex Tuesday, July 20th around 4:30 PM for not possessing valid registration – the tag had expired in June. They placed a notice on my car Friday July 16th, around 5:00 PM, stating that my car would be towed the following day, Saturday on July 17th. I then moved my car to a different location, knowing that I would not be able to get my tag renewed over the weekend, as all DMVs are obviously closed. The following Monday I went to the DMV and bought a new tag, which I still have along with the receipt. After purchasing what I needed to make my vehicle current and properly registered, I placed the tag in the front passenger seat. However, I didn’t place it on my vehicle that Monday. On Tuesday (the 20th of July), around 4:30 PM, I realized my car was being towed. I talked to the man who was towing my car, asking him if he could wait a minute while I spoke with the apartment office. I told him that I do have proper registration, and that it is clearly visible inside my car. He told me that it was not his problem and that the fees would still apply, but that he would come to the apartment office with me and let me get everything out of my car that I needed. We then proceeded to the office, where I talked with the woman in charge of apartment parking/towing. She told me that even though my car was properly registered, the tag was not on the outside of the car, and because the man had already begun towing my car, there was nothing she could do. She also informed me that I was given 72-hours’ notice of the towing in the first place.
I have several problems with her argument. First, the sticker she placed on the car did not give me 72-hours’ notice. It gave me less than a day, and a day where the DMV was closed on top of that. Second, my vehicle was definitely properly registered; it was highly visible from the car, as it was sitting in the passengers’ seat. Regarding the 72-hours’ notice, non-business days – days where I could do absolutely nothing to get my vehicle properly registered – do not count towards the 72 hours. As they placed the sticker on my car on a Friday evening, 72 hours would have been Thursday, July 22nd. Therefore, I strongly believe my car was towed illegally.
As a bit of background, I live in/around Birmingham, Alabama, and I signed the lease with my roommate when I was 18 (I still am 18, and in Alabama legal documents are not truly binding until the age of 19). I have paid my rent on time and consistently, and have never been late. In short, I have never done anything as a tenant that the apartment complex has frowned upon.
I am seriously considering breaking the lease, knowing that I have a fairly good chance of doing so without major legal repurcussions for my roommate and I. However, I would rather not, considering that I don’t have much money – otherwise, I would have paid the $250 towing fee at the beginning, instead of letting the storage fees accrue. Anyway, I am hoping to head the small claims court soon, with the intention of naming both the apartment complex and the towing company as defendants. I’ve received some non-binding legal advice from a lawyer I spoke with from LegalAid, who told me I had a decent chance, but that it was really up to the judge. I’m just looking for someone who could possibly give me some advice, or speak legalese to me, or throw some alternative solutions my way, because this is pretty draining and my mind is a bit stuck.
And also, my apartment was without water for a total of 5 days for the month of July. After some research, I found that a tenant can break the lease if the landlord fails to provide basic utilities - such as running water. Since this was due to a break in the water main of the apartment, would this also be considered legal ground to break my lease? I feel like that might be a long shot, but I don't want to leave any stone unturned, honestly.
Any help is greatly, greatly appreciated