unlawful towing! please help me (cali)

[jkypes]

dont worry about it, i appreciate you efforts!

 

[fairisfair]

the only thing that I could find that listed time frames said 48 hours posted in residential areas 24 in commercial in order for the police to enforce. I have to say though that it was involving film companies not street repairs.

 

[moburkes]

All I found was info about film companies also.

Can you call and ask? They should still be open.

 

[The Occultist]

I'm not sure any of this is worth it anymore. From what I can determine through everything OP has stated, the signs were up for a full day before he parked there, and the signs must have been up while he was parking. If he had been parked there non-stop for two days I might have a little more sympathy, but if the sign is up before he parked, I can't say I feel bad for the guy.

 

[jkypes]

I'm not sure any of this is worth it anymore. From what I can determine through everything OP has stated, the signs were up for a full day before he parked there, and the signs must have been up while he was parking. If he had been parked there non-stop for two days I might have a little more sympathy, but if the sign is up before he parked, I can't say I feel bad for the guy.

The signs WERE NOT up until the morning it happened, but like Carl said, some times a worker wont get to it in time and says they were up anyway. without me having a picture to prove that they weren't up the night before, this seems to be my only recourse.

It also doesnt account for the fact that over 100 cars in my area got towed as well that same morning, and many more yet were ticketed. how do you explain that? It would be one thing if it was just me, i would admit i must not have seen it, but to have approx 200 people ticketed, and over 100 of those towed...

I really dont think THAT many people wouldnt have seen the signs, do you?

 

[jkypes]

one other bit of info i got.

the lady from the DMV said that the company who requested the no parking signs put in the request on the 19th.

then i found this

C. TEMPORARY STREET POSTING

If street posting is needed, the permittee must contact the Department of Transportation, telephone (213) 485-2298, at least seven (7) days prior to the event to mmake the necessary arragements for the posting of temporary "No Parking" or "No Stopping" signs and for payment of the required fees pursuant to Section 80.08.7 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

my car was towed on the 23rd

 

[The Occultist]

one other bit of info i got.

the lady from the DMV said that the company who requested the no parking signs put in the request on the 19th.

then i found this

C. TEMPORARY STREET POSTING

If street posting is needed, the permittee must contact the Department of Transportation, telephone (213) 485-2298, at least seven (7) days prior to the event to mmake the necessary arragements for the posting of temporary "No Parking" or "No Stopping" signs and for payment of the required fees pursuant to Section 80.08.7 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

my car was towed on the 23rd

That doesn't mean the signs need to be posted a week in advance, it means they need to get permission a week in advance.

 

[The Occultist]

Alright, I humbly take back everything I said
I looked up the code you happened to stumble across and in section X. Conditions and Requirements, it states:

D. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The applicant must notify all residents, property owners, managers, or lessees in the closure area of the date, time, location, and purpose of the closure. This notification may be accomplished by distributing flyers, or by circulating the petition. Notification shall be completed at least 10 days prior to the event for local streets and at least 30 days prior to the event for major/secondary streets or temporary selling activities.

That suggests to me that you should have been given 10 days notice, and they failed to ensure that.

Alright Carl, come back to us and tell us what ya think.

 

[jkypes]

I understand that, but what I'm saying is that nothing here adds up. This is the most blatent shakedown to make LADOT and the towing companies money I have ever seen.

The money itself isnt even the issue here. The issue is that now EVER SINGLE DAY when i park my car i take a picture of the surrounding area so they cant pull this garbage again. I dont want to have to worry about this, but i have to. I cant afford to pay $177 to the impound lot every time they decide they want some more money.

Not to mention the ripped a piece of plastic off from the underside of the front bumper when towing my car, and stole a pair of sunglasses.

 

[jkypes]

The Occultist-

Didnt read your most recent post until just now. You Rule! Haha I Knew It!

 

[jkypes]

well... so where do i go from here? I want my money back!

also, where did you get the notification requirements from? (website url please! )

 

[jkypes]

anybody? I need to know how to fight this!

 

[CdwJava]

anybody? I need to know how to fight this!

You can either bring them the proof of their faux pas and ask them to compensate you for the cost of the tow, or you can retain counsel to do it for you ... though that would be expensive. You might see about taking this to the media as well.

- Carl

 

[jkypes]

thanks Carl. Is there a specific form i have to fill out to mail to them about there error? Do i still have to mail in the money for the ticket even though this was illegitimate? I like that idea of contacting the media, but honestly don't have a clue how to do that. I just moved out here a few weeks ago.

 

[CdwJava]

I would start by contesting the parking citation immediately. If you can beat THAT, then making a claim to the city for the cost of the towing should be easier. HOW you make the claim, I really don't know ... perhaps via small claims? Perhaps by calling the city's risk management office? Perhaps it can be as easy as asking for that compensation at your parking hearing.

If the hearing review board agrees that the citation was improperly given, they should bend over backwards to make things right. But, I work in a much smaller place where we could handle that kind of thing with a phone call - not a mile of bureaucratic red tape.

- Carl