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Vehicle towed from PRIVATE property

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Tomorrow

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Two neighbors - Roxy and Anne - live in single family properties next to each other. In addition to their single car garage, they each have a private parking space in front of their garage, ON THEIR LAND!

Recently, Anne bought a third car and began parking it on HER side yard - again on HER land, bordering Roxy's property. She arrived home this morning (after being gone last night) to find her car missing. She called the police to file a lost car report and they told her the car had been TOWED!

Because of various threats (direct and veiled) that Roxy had made in the past, Anne is 200% sure that she was responsible for this.

Surely a towing company would check to see who the land belonged to PRIOR to towing the car away? And if Roxy had the right to have the car towed in the first place?

Can Anne now file a car theft charges against Roxy and the towing company? Please advice.

Thanks in advance.
 


efflandt

Senior Member
Was the car parked on a paved or gravel parking spot or on the lawn? Have you asked whoever towed it why it was towed?

For example my communitiy has ordinances against parking in the front yard or tree bank because it is too hillbilly. Although, when I first moved to this town in the 70's there were 3 ft tall weeds growing out of cracks in the sidewalks. (what no weed ordinance?).
 

Tomorrow

Junior Member
Was the car parked on a paved or gravel parking spot or on the lawn? Have you asked whoever towed it why it was towed?

For example my communitiy has ordinances against parking in the front yard or tree bank because it is too hillbilly. Although, when I first moved to this town in the 70's there were 3 ft tall weeds growing out of cracks in the sidewalks. (what no weed ordinance?).
The yard is concreted. It wasn't parked on lawn. Also, the City ordinance permits cars to be parked on side yards, provided it is paved and provided the parking does not block all of the exits from the house. If the City had noticed a possible violation, apparently they give a 10-day courtesy notice to the home / vehicle owner

The towing company claims that the 'homeowner' asked to have the car removed because it was illegally parked on her land. This is false. The neighbor had it towed under false pretenses. She is neither the property owner authorized to have the vehicle towed nor was representing the City. Can the homeowner press charges for auto theft and/or take the neighbor to court? The towing company wants $325 to release the vehicle.
 
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sowhathappened

Junior Member
We just had something *similar* happen. Registered vehicle (but new plates not on) parked on private property (parking lot, parked legally) towed.

Tons of different stories coming from different people, it was surreal. Landlord of apartment complex next to us called in a vehicle needing to be towed (on her complex, why would she care about ours), tow truck came to our complex instead and towed our extra vehicle. Ended up being our landlord called the towing company and was extremely kind, discovered the man was just worried that he would lose his job over the mistake.

In NH, at least, the vehicle may be unregistered but so long as it's on private property, no harm. The guy who towed tried to use the expired plates as the excuse for towing, but we knew that wasn't right. Also, that towing company was not authorized by the apartment managers to be on the property, so it was considered trespassing. Trespassing then, technically, stealing a vehicle; they didn't charge us for the tow.

Tell us how it went with your neighbors!
 

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