Towed for expired tabs in a private parking lot

[jining]

Hello, I live in Washington state. My vehicle was parked in a parking spot in my town home complex, and it was towed due to expired tabs. Someone must have called the towing company that lives here. Is there some sort of traffic law stating expired tab vehicles can be towed even in a private parking lot?

I read over the homeowner rules, and it is against the rules to park a vehicle that is not currently licensed, but I am to have recieve a notice before any action is taken, which I didnt.

What should I do?

Thank you!

-Aaron

[JETX]

Originally Posted by jining

Is there some sort of traffic law stating expired tab vehicles can be towed even in a private parking lot?

Yep. Read your condo/townhome/apartment rules.

I read over the homeowner rules, and it is against the rules to park a vehicle that is not currently licensed, but I am to have recieve a notice before any action is taken, which I didnt.

What should I do?

Ask the condo/townhome/apartment board or management when they gave you notice. Also, did you have a "This is my vehicle, contact me at: XXX" sign on/in the vehicle?? If not, how were they to know HOW to contact you??

[jining]

I did read the rules, and it isnt very specific, but it says i am to recieve notice before any action is taken.

No i didnt have a note on my car saying how to contact me, it was a visitor spot, anyone can park there. I would assume they could have left a note on the windshield at least.

[justalayman]

well, especially since it was a visitor spot, there was even more justification to support the tow.

[las365]

How long did you leave your car in the visitor parking spot? What are the rules, if any, about that?

In other words, was your car towed because of the tags, or because it was in the visitor parking? Who told you that the tow was due to the tags?

[CourtClerk]

So you were improperly parked with an unregistered vehicle. Nice.

[jining]

Firstly, there are no rules against parking in visitor spots, there are several, and anyone can park there, even homeowners. The towing company told me they towed me due to expired tabs, not because of where I was parking. I had been parked there for only 1 day.

This is a private parking lot and to park there with expired tabs is not against the law, correct me if im wrong. The HOA rules state that notice shall be given before any action is taken place, towing seems like action to me.

[justalayman]

I didn't say there was a rule against it but the fact there was an unregistered vehicle in a visitor spot, they had even less reason to be concerned whose car it was.

real simple:

unregistered car

visitors spot

no idea whose car it is


IT"S GONE.

it may actually be against the law. I would have to look and honestly I'm not going to. The rules of your apt complex were no unregistered vehicles, yes? They did not know who owned the vehicle so they could not give you notice.

the car gets towed.


understand yet?

[las365]

This is in a private parking lot, expired tabs should not matter.

Because it is private property, the owner(s) can make the rules. Rules against unregistered vehicles are designed to keep people from having junked cars in the lot. It's reasonable.

Apparently you shoud have received notice. I don't know what your recourse may be.

This is one of those life lessons. Failing to take care of your business leads to bigger and more expensive problems.

[JETX]

Originally Posted by jining

Firstly, there are no rules against parking in visitor spots, there are several, and anyone can park there, even homeowners. The towing company told me they towed me due to expired tabs, not because of where I was parking. I had been parked there for only 1 day.

This is a private parking lot and to park there with expired tabs is not against the law, correct me if im wrong. The HOA rules state that notice shall be given before any action is taken place, towing seems like action to me.

Okay, since you seem to turn a deaf ear to ACCURATE posts telling you that you have no recourse and that YOU are at fault.... clearly, you are only interested in hearing what you WANT to hear.

So, with that... absolutely, YOU ARE CORRECT!!
Go to the management office first thing tomorrow, march in and DEMAND that they reimburse you for the towing and storage fees. And if they don't, then go to the impound lot and DEMAND that they waive all fees and release your car.
And if they refuse, go to the POLICE and DEMAND that they investigate your claims and go out and arrest the apartment manager and the impound lot manager.

After you have done all that, come back here and tell us how it went.

[jining]

Yea... I've been in the process of repairing it to pass emissions, its not like its a junk mobile that never moves, and I don't let it sit in 1 spot for long. I emailed the HOA president and VP, we will see what becomes of that I suppose.

[jining]

Look pal, clearly by your signature you are not very educated/a racist/or both, so let me break this down for you. I believe I have a valid argument. This is due to the fact that notice is to have been given to me, and I have seen them give notice to other vehicles before. Its very simple. The reason why I posted on the forum was to ask besides the HOA rules are there any laws that I am breaking by having my car with expired tabs parked in a private parking lot.

Thanks for everyones advice, I understand that this is a difficult situation. I think at the very least, a note could have been left on my vehicle, and I would have gladly moved it. Just my thoughts.

Originally Posted by JETX

Okay, since you seem to turn a deaf ear to ACCURATE posts telling you that you have no recourse and that YOU are at fault.... clearly, you are only interested in hearing what you WANT to hear.

So, with that... absolutely, YOU ARE CORRECT!!
Go to the management office first thing tomorrow, march in and DEMAND that they reimburse you for the towing and storage fees. And if they don't, then go to the impound lot and DEMAND that they waive all fees and release your car.
And if they refuse, go to the POLICE and DEMAND that they investigate your claims and go out and arrest the apartment manager and the impound lot manager.

After you have done all that, come back here and tell us how it went.

[JETX]

Originally Posted by jining

Look pal, clearly by your signature you are not very educated/a racist/or both

Wow... so you think that stating a legal fact shows a lack of education or racism?? You're a friggin' idiot!!
My signature is simply a CONSTITUTIONAL issue that should be resolved. It, and my stance, would be identical no matter who is in office.... and makes no mention of race. I don't care if the President is black, white, orange or purple. The issue is ONLY whether he meets the constitutional requirements or not. I believe that this president doesn't... and if he does, it would cost him all of about $10 to simply 'purchase' a valid birth certificate and present it to the court. Instead, he is spending hundreds of thousands of CAMPAIGN dollars (which is also illegal) trying to avoid the issue hoping it will go away. At last count, there are 379,780 signatures on the petition asking the US Supreme Court to 'man up' and allow the lawsuits to be heard.
If you can handle a little education, go to: [url]http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=98546[/url]

so let me break this down for you. I believe I have a valid argument.

You don't... but if you feel that way, do as I posted. I have no dog in your fight.... only in trying to give you a little education beyond that third grade you have.

This is due to the fact that notice is to have been given to me, and I have seen them give notice to other vehicles before. Its very simple.

Then your solution is equally simple... go to the management and demand a refund. Wow, anyone with a 4th grade education could have figured that one out.

The reason why I posted on the forum was to ask besides the HOA rules are there any laws that I am breaking by having my car with expired tabs parked in a private parking lot.

But that is NOT what you asked. If you had asked it that way.... the answer is:
"Depends. There are no statutory laws that prohibit you from parking your piece of crap vehicle in that spot... but there may be local ordinances or private rules (from the owner) that do restrict the parking of your POS... on private property."
Have a hap-hap-happy day!!!

[jining]

This was my original question from my first post: "Is there some sort of traffic law stating expired tab vehicles can be towed even in a private parking lot?"

Thank you guys for the help and you have a great day as well.

[justalayman]

Originally Posted by jining

Look pal, clearly by your signature you are not very educated/a racist/or both, so let me break this down for you. I believe I have a valid argument. This is due to the fact that notice is to have been given to me, and I have seen them give notice to other vehicles before. Its very simple. The reason why I posted on the forum was to ask besides the HOA rules are there any laws that I am breaking by having my car with expired tabs parked in a private parking lot.

Thanks for everyones advice, I understand that this is a difficult situation. I think at the very least, a note could have been left on my vehicle, and I would have gladly moved it. Just my thoughts.

You may have believed you had a valid complaint. You have since been informed as to why you do not have a valid complaint.

No, it is not a difficult question. It is actually very easy.

your apt complex requires tags.

your car had no tags.

you claim they had to give notice

you were parked in a visitor parking spot therefore eluding identification

they towed the dang car.


you have no recourse

I think at the very least, a note could have been left on my vehicle, and I would have gladly moved it. Just my thoughts.

show me where in your rules, that is required. If it isn't, quit expecting them to take actions that are not required by the rules.

Like I said, I am not going to research the laws. I do know that in some states it is legal to tow a vehicle from private property that does not have tags so it is a possibility it is that way in your state as well.

It matters not because by following the rules you have been given, they did what they were allowed to do and they followed the rules in doing it.

Now give it up. You are wrong. It is just that simple.