The 2013 San Antonio Towing Ordinance

For the public's right to view the San Antonio Towing Ordinance that is currently in effect, go this site, http://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/SAPD/Ordinance-2013-01-31-0075.pdf

The motoring public is urged to file criminal charges (by calling 210-207-2348) against the towing company and parking facility if after an investigation by the San Antonio Police Department determines any laws have been violated.

Vehicle Door Locks Not Working after Being Towed?

It is not uncommon for a wrecker driver to damage the door locks of a vehicle he/she is going to tow without the vehicle owner's permission. 

When retrieving your vehicle from the storage facility, you always want to check every door that has key locks, to see rather or not they still lock or unlock the vehicle. Another way to tell if your vehicle has been unlocked is the weather stripping at the bottom of the glass is torn, bent or detached from the door shell. 

There is really no valid reason for a wrecker driver to unlock a locked vehicle, considering the towing industry provides all the necessary equipment to tow a vehicle. In most cases, a honest wrecker driver, when peering into the vehicle, will list items seen on the vehicle inventory sheet, while a dishonest wrecker driver will just steal what they want and write on the vehicle inventory form that the doors were unlocked. 

In any event you find that your vehicle has been opened, while at the storage facility, you most definitely want to call 911 and file a report for burglary of your vehicle. If you find that your door locks don't work, you most definitely want to call the Police to make a damage report and be sure to get the offense number, so when you file a complaint against the towing company and vehicle storage facility, for damage or personal effects stolen from your vehicle, you can include this offense report number in the explanation of your complaint.

In every insurance claim or TDLR complaint filed against a towing company and vehicle storage facility, having a Police offense report number validates your claim, as without it, it's your word against the towing company, and they are known to be pathological liars. 

Never, should you ever leave the Vehicle Storage Facility property if you discover damage to your vehicle without having law enforcement come and take a report. 

Once you leave the storage lot and notice items missing, your chance of any recovery is slim to none.

If you ever see someone trying to unlock a vehicle in any parking lot with a “slim jim” (door unlocking tool) with a tow truck nearby, call 911 immediately to report someone attempting to burglarize a vehicle.

Don't Become Another Towing Scam Victim

tinyurl.com/c2ay9u7

I stand by this radio interview taped back in September 2012, as proof of today's events with the towing lobby hard at work corrupting members of the Texas Legislature, to rob motorists of parking protections.

The motoring public is encouraged to write and email your Texas Senator(s) and House Representatives ASKING THEM not to support HB 356, HB 2345 and HB 338.

Southwest Tow Operators Member Tow Company SCAMS MOTORISTS UNABATED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hi Pat, my car was towed 2 nights ago (evening of March 19th), without my consent, or even my knowledge (For all I knew,  my car might have been stolen.)

I called the tow company of the apartment complex I live at and discovered it was indeed towed.  They told me it would cost $165 to pick it up and didn't mention any other fees.

This is the second time my car has been towed, and it was for expired stickers both times, and the first time they put the "orange sticker" on a window last time to at least give me a heads up.

This time, I didn't even get a sticker.

I noticed on your website that it said they can't even tow with just the sticker, and must send certified mail.  I was wondering what advice you could give me on approaching this situation and if you could at least provide me with links to this information in writing so I can backup this claim in court.

I went to pickup my car today with $205.00 in hand (because from previous experience I knew they charged a daily storage fee) and then they tried to tell me it was going to be about $260.00 (This being just 36 hours later, the day after I called).  $50.00 for sending out a certified mail notice telling me that they towed my car AFTER I called inquiring whether they had my car, and a fee after the first 12 hours of storage, and two more $21.64 fees.

If the information helps you at all, the towing company is

Longhorn Wrecker 

1825 California Crossing Rd, Dallas, TX 75220

(972) 501-9906

I'm looking into taking as much legal action as I can on my own (don't have money for a lawyer), at a minimum filing a complaint at the local Justice of the Peace in Dallas and I would like any guidance you can give on how to proceed.

Thank you so much for your time.  It is very much appreciated.

**************************************

You want to file two separate complaints against Longhorn Wrecker for each time towed for an expired sticker without receiving the Certified Mail letter informing of the expiration issue, given 10 days, then towed.  The SOAH Judges are finally ordering tow companies to refund the fees paid, it takes awhile, but the towing company nor the parking facility can bypass this notification requirement and successfully win in Court.

Law enforcement agencies within the North Texas area need to take a stand against predatory convicted felon tow truck operators and company owners currently engaging in organized criminal activity.

Expired Sticker Scam DFW Area Targets Poor

Drivers in the North Texas area are being targeted for expired inspection and/or registration stickers in parking lots of residential communities by predatory tow truck operators.  Tow Companies owners know how long the process can be dragged out with their attorneys and wear vehicle owners down, it's just a big game to defraud the public..

Southwest Auto Tow by far outpaces others by scamming vehicle owners, unaware the registered owner of the vehicle would receive a Certified Mail letter, giving NOTICE the vehicle will be towed, if not corrected by 10 days.

I know in the last month, TDLR complaints on Southwest Auto Tow and Black Bull have exceeded 20 each filed thru Texas Towing Compliance links..

http://texasparkingfacilityfraud.blogspot.com/search?q=expired+inspection