Predatory Towing In PG County – How To Avoid Being a Victim

Prince Georges County Maryland is one of the most prosperous, highly developed, and heavily populated counties in the state. Many of these government workers, military personnel and private sector employees live in apartment complexes, and many of them have been victims of predatory towing.

Predatory towing is the practice of unaffiliated private towing companies towing illegally parked cars in private parking lots, in order to extract high towing fees.

The Average household has at least two vehicles. Most apartment complexes issue one or two parking permits often times with specific stipulations such as:

• Vehicle owner’s name must be on the lease.
• Must have proof of vehicle ownership.
• Vehicle must be registered in Maryland.
• Fee associated with parking pass.

In many cases parking permits are not distributed evenly with the number of spaces on the property. In some cases, even if you have a permit, you are not guaranteed a parking space. Many properties have included visitor spaces which are exempt to residents. If the community doesn’t have assigned parking spaces, chances are there is a first come first serve parking policy which appears to be ungoverned.

Here’s a Story

Your boo thang moved to a new apartment complex and you’re going to visit them. You’re following directions on your GPS and don’t notice the ‘Parking By Permit Only Strictly Enforced’ sign as you pull into the complex entrance. It’s been a minute since you two saw each other and they are so happy to see you, they forget to mention you need a visitor’s parking pass. Hours later (or the next morning wink wink), you go outside to leave and realize your vehicle is gone! Your heart drops, your first fear is that your car was stolen. Fortunately, it was not stolen, you just became a victim of predatory towing. Getting your vehicle back will cost $175 and there is a $50 per day for storage fee.

How To Avoid Predatory Towing In PG County (Free Game)

1. Assume every apartment complex, town home community and business shopping center in has a towing company that enforces towing on their property because most of them do.
2. Assume every apartment complex and town home community requires a parking pass.
3. Even though most complexes do not start towing until after 10pm, assume that towing is enforced 24hrs. It often is.
4. Absolutely under no circumstances should you park in the fire lane. Even if it is an emergency, DO NOT PARK IN THE FIRE LANE. It literally only takes 5 seconds for the tow truck to be gone with your car!
5. If you must park in the fire lane, absolutely positively under no circumstances should you turn on your hazard lights. If you going to get a ticket or your car gets impounded for parking in the Fire lane, the fact that your hazard light are on makes no difference. Your hazard lights are a signal to tow truck drivers that you’re parked illegally, especially at night.
6. If you’re visiting someone overnight and if they are unsure about the parking policies for the community, park on the street! It’s better to be safe than sorry.
7. If you have a parking pass and/or are planning to park on the property, make sure that your tags are valid with current registration displayed (In Maryland on tags, in DC in driver side window). Most people are unaware that you can get towed if your tags are expired. Maryland law dictates that you must display current tag at all times.
8. Never park in a reserved space. Most reserved spaces are indicated on the ground and if you’re not paying attention to where you’re parking, you can easily park right over it.
9. Never park in the handicap space without a handicap tank or placard. Placard expiration date must be visible.
10. Never create your own space. If there are not white lines to the right and left of your car, beware. Remember it only takes 5 seconds.
11. Never park over the white line. Towing company drivers are predators and are always looking for the smallest reason or slightest opportunity to tow your car.
12. Inoperable vehicles can get towed too.
13. Never try to duplicate a parking pass. You can get evicted from a property if caught.
14. Never try to engage in a physical altercation with the tow truck driver. The tow truck driver is a contractor for the complex and engaging can result in an eviction for you if you live there or for the person that lives there if you are visiting.
15. Always pay attention to signs posted at the complex entrance. If towing is enforced, the law states that a sign must be posted at all of the complex entrances as a sufficient warning.  Towing companies have reimbursed impound fees because the signs was not properly displayed. This does however require due process.
16. If your car was towed, always get a receipt. Towing companies have reimbursed people due to incomplete receipts. This does however require due process.
17. Never pay over $50 on the property for a drop fee for your vehicle. More than $50, the tow truck driver is extorting you. Be sure to record your conversation with the driver.
18. If your car was towed in Prince George’s county and you are unfamiliar with the due process for reimbursement or receiving justice under Subtitle Divisions 10 and 18 of the County Code, this Show Cause Hearing Form entitles you to request a show cause hearing into the impoundment of your vehicle.