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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    10

    Default Parking in the Fire Lane at My Apartment Complex

    My question involves towing laws for the State of: Maryland
    Hi,

    My car was towed from my apartment complex 2 days ago, because I was parked in the fire lane. There isn't always parking at night so I parked there. That isn't an excuse, but the thing that got to me is that I got towed but they didn't tow the maintenance car, which is always parked in the fire lane at ALL time.

    So my question is, is it illegal for me to park there and legal for them? I personally don't think there is anyone exempt.
    I tried to explain my thought to the manager at this towing company but he wouldn't hear me of course.
    I am so pissed against the property manager for calling the towing company to tow my car, when they knew that their vehicule was also parked there. I know they work in collaboration with the towing company but I am just not sure this was legal.
    I am actually trying to find out if they can reimburse me what I paid at the towing company since their car was also there and it wasn't towed or just call the police to tell them that there is a vehicule always parked in the fire lane...
    I just don't think it was fair.
    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Officially across the country from where I've been all my life
    Posts
    4,494

    Default Re: Parking in the Fire Lane at My Apartment Complex

    Your car was illegally parked. That's the beginning and end of it. You are responsible for YOUR car. Just because someone else did it and got away with it doesn't mean your car was any less illegally parked. So now you have to deal with the consequences of YOUR actions.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    10

    Default Re: Parking in the Fire Lane at My Apartment Complex

    Quote Quoting CourtClerk
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    Your car was illegally parked.
    I am not denying this fact my dear, my question was about the maintenance car not being towed because it belonged to the apartment complex.
    So, let me rephrase my queston: Is there a law out there concerning fire lanes, that would cover the maintenance cars in an apartment complex? According to the guy who towed my car, that was the reason why it didn't get towed.
    Thanks


    (please, I need someone who is knowledgeable about this topic to answer me, I don't need people to tell me that I was wrong or that it was my fault, I just need answers to the above question. I think I tried to make it specific enough. Thanks in advamce.)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    LA LA Land
    Posts
    9,170

    Default Re: Parking in the Fire Lane at My Apartment Complex

    Quote Quoting Isabe-l
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    Is there a law out there concerning fire lanes, that would cover the maintenance cars in an apartment complex?
    No, there is no law that exempts maintenance vehicles from getting towed for being parked in a fire lane.

    And no, there is no law that says that a towing company has to tow each and every vehicle it sees parked in a fire lane...

    And there is no law that forces a management company from having to request the towing of their own maintenance car(s) if/when they are parked in a fire lane (that wouldn't make any business sense, would it)!

    Quote Quoting Isabe-l
    View Post
    I am actually trying to find out if they can reimburse me what I paid at the towing company since their car was also there and it wasn't towed
    You can try and ask them to reimburse you, my guess is they will refuse. You can sue them in court, and my guess is you will lose. And no, there is no law that says they have to reimburse you if your vehicle is towed and theirs isn't...

    Quote Quoting Isabe-l
    View Post
    or just call the police to tell them that there is a vehicule always parked in the fire lane...
    You are free to call the police to see if they will come out and subsequently order the maintenance car to be towed. They may listen to you and respond, they may ignore you... or it is possible that in your county/city, that they may not have such authority to order the vehicle to be removed. That authority is given tp the police by ordinance or resolution and you'll have to contact your city/county and or law enforcement agency to find out the answer.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    10

    Default Re: Parking in the Fire Lane at My Apartment Complex

    Quote Quoting That Guy
    View Post
    No, there is no law that exempts maintenance vehicles from getting towed for being parked in a fire lane.

    And no, there is no law that says that a towing company has to tow each and every vehicle it sees parked in a fire lane...

    And there is no law that forces a management company from having to request the towing of their own maintenance car(s) if/when they are parked in a fire lane (that wouldn't make any business sense, would it)!


    You can try and ask them to reimburse you, my guess is they will refuse. You can sue them in court, and my guess is you will lose. And no, there is no law that says they have to reimburse you if your vehicle is towed and theirs isn't...


    You are free to call the police to see if they will come out and subsequently order the maintenance car to be towed. They may listen to you and respond, they may ignore you... or it is possible that in your county/city, that they may not have such authority to order the vehicle to be removed. That authority is given tp the police by ordinance or resolution and you'll have to contact your city/county and or law enforcement agency to find out the answer.
    Thanks for your thorough response!

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