Post by LoveTrains on Apr 16, 2014 13:59:22 GMT -5
Ugh. I need to vent somewhere so you guys are getting it. My car got towed today off the street for "obstructing a driveway" except it totally wasn't and there is another car parked there right now.
It cost me $107 in cash - exact change - to get it from the impound lot. To add insult to injury I got a $30 ticket from the city.
Ugh that really sucks, I am sorry. Do you think someone called it in for some strange reason? I'd be so angry that I just had to spend $107 + $30 to get my car back when I didn't do anything wrong.
Did your car reach the edge of the driveway - in any fashion? Going too close to the driveway opening IS considered obstruction. Most likely the owner complained as they were having difficulty entering or exiting their driveway due to parked cars on an ongoing basis--- you just were the "lucky" one of the day to get the extra attention. Not much you can do - just pay the tow fee and the fine.
Post by imojoebunny on Apr 16, 2014 18:03:30 GMT -5
Our city has a rule that you can't park within 6' of a drive. It is seldom enforced, but I have seen and heard of it being done when someone specifically complains. You also can't park with in 15-20' of an intersection, but people do it all the time. First, I would make sure you really are in the right, then if you are, I would complain to the chief of police and the Mayors office that the towing company towed you illegally.
Did your car reach the edge of the driveway - in any fashion? Going too close to the driveway opening IS considered obstruction. Most likely the owner complained as they were having difficulty entering or exiting their driveway due to parked cars on an ongoing basis--- you just were the "lucky" one of the day to get the extra attention. Not much you can do - just pay the tow fee and the fine.
No, my car was completely past the curb cut and the driveway by a foot. I park on the street for work every day and parking is SO hard. I drove around for 10 minutes today before I found that spot and inched up repeatedly so that i wasn't obstructing the driveway. That is why I'm so mad.
Our city has a rule that you can't park within 6' of a drive. It is seldom enforced, but I have seen and heard of it being done when someone specifically complains. You also can't park with in 15-20' of an intersection, but people do it all the time. First, I would make sure you really are in the right, then if you are, I would complain to the chief of police and the Mayors office that the towing company towed you illegally.
LOLOLOL about complaining to the chief of police and the mayor's office. I live in a city of 200Kish people.
I will have to look up the regulations because it is possible that there is a rule about how close to the driveway you can be. I am just irritated because I have parked there a million times in the five years at my job - and again, there was a car parked there when I went looking for mine!!
My city also has the rule about 20' from the intersection and that is enforced. I have gotten tickets for that a ton but at least they don't tow you away.
No, my car was completely past the curb cut and the driveway by a foot. I park on the street for work every day and parking is SO hard. I drove around for 10 minutes today before I found that spot and inched up repeatedly so that i wasn't obstructing the driveway. That is why I'm so mad.
Is 1 foot enough? Our city has a 4 foot rule from the driveway.
Yeah I might need to look into that. But again, EVERYONE else including me have parked in this spot a million and one times. The whole parking situation at my work is a cluster right now. There are two giant construction projects going on in the area and the trucks take up so much of the street parking, the lot at my work isn't big enough for everyone and its seniority based. Right now the wait list is like 13 years - I have worked there for five years.
A friend recently received a ticket for parking within 5' of a drive way. She wasn't towed. I would wonder if they can tow you without signs stating how far away. It's not always common knowledge about the distance from a driveway. I have no clue though if they can or cannot, just speculating.
Our city has a rule that you can't park within 6' of a drive. It is seldom enforced, but I have seen and heard of it being done when someone specifically complains. You also can't park with in 15-20' of an intersection, but people do it all the time. First, I would make sure you really are in the right, then if you are, I would complain to the chief of police and the Mayors office that the towing company towed you illegally.
LOLOLOL about complaining to the chief of police and the mayor's office. I live in a city of 200Kish people.
I will have to look up the regulations because it is possible that there is a rule about how close to the driveway you can be. I am just irritated because I have parked there a million times in the five years at my job - and again, there was a car parked there when I went looking for mine!!
My city also has the rule about 20' from the intersection and that is enforced. I have gotten tickets for that a ton but at least they don't tow you away.
I lived in a county in the house we just moved from with 707,000 people, and I still met personally with two county Commisioners (no Mayor here, just commisioners) and the police chief. It really isn't hard. You might be surprised. I never set out to have to deal with politicians, but I had a corrupt police officer who was making my life hell (extreme noise ordinance violations, health code violations, ect), who was not just ignoring the law, but lying to cover up for a client who paid him thousands upon thousands for private security work. I hope it is easier than that for you, and your problem is a one time thing, but don't underestimate the power of a pissed off voter who communicates effectively.