If you’ve parked your car in a public spot without paying for a ticket and had it towed, you know only too well the hassle of getting to the impound lot and paying a hefty fine for the privilege. But did you know that in Denver, it’s illegal for a car to be towed if this happens? By law, you can only receive a ticket if this happens – yet across the area vehicles continue to be towed illegally.
Stop-N-Park
One company which manages hundreds of downtown parking spaces has come under fire, receiving lots of complaints over the last 12 months. One irritated woman had her car towed whilst watching the Colorado Rockies play. She then received a notice advising her of collection of the unpaid ticket, which was issued to her by Stop-N-Park, and a $200 fine! It’s thought that the company is operating without a license and is responsible for dozens of illegal car towing incidents in Denver.
Illegal Towing Decline
Last year, after Denver made changes to the way parking lots are monitored and licensed, illegal towing took a sharp decline, with it almost disappearing altogether. But companies like Stop-N-Park continue to insist on illegal car towing in Denver. It’s worth bearing in mind that towing isn’t always illegal – it depends on where your vehicle has been parked. If you’re parked on a private lot, even just for a few minutes, the owner is within his or her right to have your vehicle legally towed. Always check for signs indicating it’s legal to park in the lot before doing so.
Regulation
The towing industry in Colorado is regulated by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, which does crack down on companies suspected of illegal towing. In many instances though, it is a case of un-clear parking regulations causing many drivers to be towed, which they often feel is unfair. A recent example is the allocation of assigned parking spaces at Snooze. Spaces are reserved for individual restaurants, so if you’re eating nearby Anthony’s, make sure to park in the spaces reserved for their customers. By not reading the signage properly, you could end up with a hefty $275 fee just to get your vehicle back once it has been towed!
So what’s the solution? Clearly, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission needs to impose heavier penalties on companies who practice illegal car towing in Denver, in keeping with the heavy fines that they impose on innocent drivers! They also need to monitor whether signage for parking is clear enough for drivers to understand, to avoid people parking in the wrong area. This should hopefully alleviate any future problems and lead to the end of illegal towing in the area.
