Yes the tow trucks must have been lining up for that one! Probable arrived within 5 minutes of the complaint. It’s a very competitive business. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Gang:

Well I ended up paying $425 to get it back, BUT sold a 21 year old Hobie 17 for $3300 so I guess I did alright. Still *)*)* me off.

Doug

i'm from where warbird is and i remember well when this all 1st started happening 20 odd year ago

before that time you could and would park your car on a sunday at a store carpark if the store was closed for the day

however towing company's would PAY for the right to "harvest cars" that were parked illegally on private property. ie for a percentage or a flat rate they would be able to tow vehicles from any area where they had an agreement with the land owner. the land owner would either get a regular month payment or a percentage of the tow fee

the only rider was that there had to be a "illegally parked vehicles will be towed at owners expense" sign somewhere on the land

once this was up the tow trucks would just drive around like taxis looking for a "fare" at all their spots, 24 hours a day if they liked!

at the time the loop hole was that they couldn't hold your car if you insisted that it be returned and that you would pay a bill that they sent you. of course once this got out no one ever paid the bill so i presume that loophole got closed

of course EVERY country and even county will have different laws but it does seem unjust the way that system operated. just imagine that you sold the rights to kidnap any door to door salesman who happened to step onto your property without permission

or for that matter any kid who climbed over your cat while it was sitting on the beach

eric e

some swine appeared to have gutted a fish on my fore deck the other day! presumably he wouldn't like it if i did the same on his car roof

Hate to say it, but it's actually possible the lot owner doesn't want random vehicles parked in his lot any more than you want someone gutting fish on your boat.

I don't own a business, but you have to look at this more realistically. They spend money to sweep the lots (sometimes plow snow), and having random cars in the way just doesn't make sense.

I do own a house, and I can tell you that if someone parked in my driveway, the last thing they'd need to worry about is the tow truck. I'm sure most of you feel the same way.

Mike

I can see if the lot is in use, but store is closed. It is filled with commuter car poolers everyday. I just didn't see the sign about no overnights. They were just *)()('s. Oh well lesson learned. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Doug