Columbus City towing law

[gimmechoco137]

A friend of mine recently went out of town for the weekend, and during her absence, her car was towed.

She is not contesting the ticket itself. However, she received no notification that her car was towed, and since she did not need it right away, she did not notice her car was gone until a day or two after returning home. It was at the Columbus City-Auto Lot, so I am assuming it was the city itself that towed her car, and not any private company. My question is two-fold: 1) should she have received any sort of notification that her car was towed? 2) is the city subject to the Ohio law that requires the maximum towing fee to be $90 and the maximum daily storage fee to be $12? She was charged far more than this, along with an administrative fee. Thanks.

 

[HighwayMan]

She should check with her local police department.

I don't know about there, but it seems a huge administrative headache to attempt to notify each owner every time their vehicle is towed. I would think you're expected to actually pay attention and if you're car is missing then go to the police. In my work area we have to put an entry into NCIC when a car is towed/impounded - so if the plate gets checked it will show that it was towed and where it is.

 

[FlyingRon]

Chortle. I don't know of any either. Usually, if you've not figured out you were likely towed and called enforcement yourself, they figure it out when you try to report the car stolen to the police. I remember my roommate doing so and the officer coming back a few minutes later with "yeah, we have it..."

 

[LeeHarveyBlotto]

It was at the Columbus City-Auto Lot, so I am assuming it was the city itself that towed her car, and not any private company.

FWIW, this isn't a valid assumption.