My visit to Lexington KY

[vanokat]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? KY

My visit to Lexington KY - Oct. 26,2009
Yesterday I had to travel to Lexington KY where my son had a appt at UK hospital. After we finished we stopped to get something to eat before we started the long drive home. My son and his girlfriend wanted McDonalds. So we of course found one near the hosp. on Limestone Dr. Right next door was a Chipolte so my husband and I chose that. We had limited money so I told the kids to let me get mine and I would give them whatever money I had left to add to their own for McDonalds. They waited in the car while we went into Chipolte. My son was impatient and came in Chipolte to get the money. When we walked out we saw our car hooked up to a tow truck. My husband yelled for the guy to stop and ran down to where he was. The guy was so rude and said the parking lot was for McDonalds customers only. All 4 of us tried to tell him we were customers but he would not listen. He demanded $56 to unhook. He said "Its $56 now or $116 if I pull it to the yard" My husband begged this guy to not take the car - he told him we were 21/2 hours away from home. He would not listen.
He told him we did not have $56 in cash would he take a CC. At the same time I went into McDonalds and asked them to call the police. As I stepped back out the door the guy saw me and sped off with the car. He would not give my husband time to get the CC from me.
Several people were watching in the parking lot. They were all yelling for the guy to stop. One lady told me she was on the phone with the police. Another lady in the parking lot told me McDonalds and the tow truck company have a little scam going here. She said they have a guy sitting in a regular car watching and alerts the tow truck driver who is there within a minute or so.
I realized what was going on when the lady said "the police said its between you and the tow truck company" They would not even come out. So there we stood feeling so violated, not knowing what to do. We didn't even know where we were or where this idiot had taken the car. I spotted a cop turning the corner so I flagged her down and told her what happened. She told me "it happens all the time". She called the tow truck company but when she hung up she politely said "Well there is nothing I can do, this is a civil matter"
I of course, said "No its a criminal matter this guy is stealing cars and you are allowing it" She at least offered my husband a ride to go and retrieve the car. So me and 2 teenagers were left standing there. My son was very upset. He had just been treated at UK for a brain tumor. This should not have happened.
About 45 minutes later my husband was back. It cost $118 ransome to get the car out. These guys are just preying on people and making a killing.
Lots of very poor people in the Lexington area. Most are on fixed income. Considering it was the 26th of the month just about everyone is broke. I bet these guys are really cashing in on the ones who cannot pay immediately. Daily storage fees will rack up and they will not be able to get their cars out at all. All with police protection.
Sad to think of this happening to old people or families with maybe a baby or 2. No one cares anymore. There is no right and wrong. No morals. No caring about others. There is only greed and thieves left.


Mc Donalds
357 South Limestone
Lexington, KY 40507

Chipolte
345 South Limestone
Lexington, KY 40507

Metro Towing LLC.
855 Angliana Ave.
Lexington KY 40508

Better Business Bureau
Complaint Tracking Number: E7CE3-6DB6A-A2409-997C0-8448D-99174-97

[racer72]

I found your story somewhat compelling. The dialog was a bit dry for such an emotional event. It also appears the McDonalds has problems with folks using their parking lot while visiting neighboring establishments, such as what you did. Did you have a question or did you just want to rant?

[haplesshome45]

All the owner had to do (one of the adults) was just hop in the car while the other was arguing with the tow truck driver and that is the end of it (and lock the doors). The tow driver cannot tow the car with an occupant inside. The occupant is still the Owner and entitled to possession of the auto. The tow driver cannot use force or other self-help to enforce what he sees as his civil remedies. You have a classic stand-off. That ends up with the tow driver simply unhooking the car (either that, or the tow man has to use force to eject the owner, and that means a criminal assault charge plus a big lawsuit, so if he has any brains at all - or if his dispatcher has any brains on the radio - then he is not going to do that).

Moving past that, the further question is whether or not the McDonald's had issued proper Notice to the public that is was not inviting persons to go onto their lot. Was a sign prominently posted?

I must say I am a little surprised that the headquarters of McDonald's would let their franchise operators get so rough with the public. Try complaining to the District Office and I rather suspect they will send you a check for the tow, some food coupons, and have a long talk with the franchisee. This is not a company that wants a reputation for rough stuff.

[Rexlan]

I agree with racer72. This is not public space for your use.

Sad to think of this happening to old people or families with maybe a baby or 2. No one cares anymore.

So what .... old people should have saved for the future and folks with kids should think before they poke.

I'm old and I get by fine.