Tow Trucks in Austin Metro Area Breaking Rules, Not Securing Vehicles

Austin is a notoriously difficult place to park a car, and anyone who parks illegally, even for a few minutes, risks having his or her car towed away. You probably knew that already, but chances are you didn’t know that most tow trucks in the Austin metro area have been putting you, and everyone else on the road, in danger. How? By not using safety chains to secure the vehicles they’re towing away.

“The danger in not using safety chains is if the vehicle comes loose in any shape or form, that vehicle is basically on a free-for-all on the streets and highways".

“This is alarming, this should not be happening,” according to Don Vara with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. “State Law requires for every vehicle that is in tow to be properly secured with the use of safety chains.”

“I mean the rules are in place for a reason and that they’re not following them is a problem, it creates a safety hazard, can probably even damage the vehicle that’s being towed as well so for a lot of different reasons they should be complying with those State Laws."

I believe the towing companies don’t bother using chains because it’s an extra step, one that slows them down when they’re doing private property tows. It seems pretty crystal that you want to do it in a hurry because if the owner comes you gotta just release it without charge.

Police officers are looking the other way so somebody can make money because not one tow truck has been stopped and cited.  Even APD's tow contractor doesn't use safety chains when towing buses for cap metro...

“Officers that observe tow truck drivers that are not in compliance should be stopped and cited.”

"I don’t mind people making money, this is a capitalist country, but they have to do it the right way.”

Reliant Towing Still Scamming the Public by Refusing to Provide Required Information

When anyone picks up their vehicle at Reliant Towing or any tow company or even pays a drop fee, it's important to check the receipts provided for "who authorized the tow".  State Law requires both the tow company and vehicle storage facility to provide the name of the "person" who authorized the tow.  Reliant still continues refuses to provide this information and the public is encouraged to file an online complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation for this violation, which will get them fined several thousands of dollars.

It is also important to file a complaint if the documents given directs you to a specific Justice of the Peace to file the request for a towing hearing, another violation, since the tow hearing can be held at any Justice of the Peace within the County to which the vehicle was towed from.

Reliant like Southside Wrecker and many other storage facilities are sending the notification electronically via a Post Office out of state to drive up the total charges, because it can take up to 10 days for the letter to reach an Austin address before the vehicle owner or lien holder discovers where their vehicle is.

click on image to enlarge

Citizens and Tourists of Austin Targeted in Predatory Towing and Storage Scam

Longhorn Wrecker Victims Score Big Wins in Court

fails to state "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed At Owner or Operator Expense" & 24/7 added to "Towing Enforced" makes the sign illegal. 2 statutory violations on this sign

The towing signs provided by Longhorn Wrecker in Dallas fail to comply with the minimum requirement of the Texas Towing Law, because they fail to state: "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed at Owner or Operator Expense".

Anyone towed by Longhorn Wrecker should contact the Texas Towing Compliance Prosecution Teams. They will represent you with no upfront legal fees to file a Statutory Violation or a Theft Liability Lawsuit against the landowner, tow company and property management company.

Some towing company owners believe they can add language to these required phrases in "quotes", but this phrase is a statutory requirement, just like the word "STOP" on a stop sign.

No sign posted within 25' of roadway

Everyone towed by Longhorn Wrecker should file an online complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation for illegal towing signs posted.

The owners and drivers of Longhorn continue to steal vehicles and hold them hostage until their extortion fee is paid.

Prosecution Teams:  817-253-9999 and 512-236-1114

Predatory J&J Towing Targeting College Students, their guests & Nurses

The following is an email from a tow victim:

Hi, Pat,

 

I got your Email address from googling towing law and reading texastowingcompliance.com.  I’m following the advice at the bottom of one of the pages, that says, “Go back to the parking lot you were towed from to take pictures of the towing signs posted, then email them and the documents you were given at the storage facility to pat@texastowingcompliance.com.”

 

My son lives in Austin, at University Estates on Crossing Place, just off Riverside.  Every resident is issued a single parking sticker when they move in, which for him was 2½ years ago.  He has never owned a car.  He gave his sticker to his girlfriend, so that she could come and go at will.  This is a huge complex, with ~25 building units and hundreds of parking spaces.  Most parking spaces have no markings whatsoever; these are for residents.  Certain spaces are labeled “visitor” in paint on the ground, very often faded, at the entrance to the space, not on the curb.  There are relatively few of these, and they’re in seemingly random places.  There is only one sign regarding towing, and it’s on the automated front gate, which, by the way, is usually wide open and often does not work at all.

 

My son came home to Conroe for Spring Break, and at the same time, my daughter went to stay in his apartment for SXSW.  Since the parking pass is a sticker, not a mirror hanger, it can’t be moved from vehicle to vehicle, so she didn’t have it.  She did her best to choose visitor spaces, but again, they are in random places and the paint is often faded.  She parked in a spot she believed was a visitor spot, but discovered Wednesday morning she’d been towed in the night.  It cost $193.30 to get it back, which she was finally able to do Wednesday afternoon.

 

On Friday night, having made more effort to make sure she was in a good spot, she got towed again, after parking without incident in the same spot Thursday night (and different from Tuesday night).  It was at the end of a short row of several spots, the first few of which are marked for visitors.  It was raining in Austin most of the week, and she was trying to see these labels on the ground in the rain at night.  She parked at about 10:pm, and when she happened to come out at 11:30pm she discovered she’d already been towed a second time.  At 7:30 in the morning she called the towing company, J&J, to confirm they had her car again.  They told her that she had until 11:18am to get there or they’d charge her more.

 

For the second time in three days she had to beg a ride from a friend to get to the lot, and barely made it.  The three male staff were very rude and obnoxious to her.  Two of them ignored her altogether.  The one in the transaction window told her he didn’t care if she waited all day, saying “I get paid to sit on my a$$,” and walked away from the window in the middle of their exchange.   While standing right there in the window she called their main number, and watched the same guy answer the phone and jeer at her.  He eventually came back, but made a point of playing on his cell phone and ignoring her demands for help, till she went off on him.  Of course she was very angry, and admittedly her behavior would be considered rude and hostile in any normal business transaction – but it’s a different matter when her car was basically stolen and held for ransom twice in three days.  This second time they charged her $214.95, including 2 days’ storage, 12 hr and 18 min total but crossing the midnight line, when it was the fool in the window who’d deliberately delayed dealing with her.  She asked for any photos the company might have taken, but the guy refused to give her those.

 

The first time she was towed, I called the management office of the property, and spoke to some woman who identified herself as the “property manager and owner agent.”  She was utterly unhelpful and just kept saying over and over, “our policy is posted on the gate and anyone who doesn’t comply is subject to tow,” till she and I were eventually yelling at each other, and I hung up on her.  She said it didn’t make a bit of difference that my daughter was legitimately on the property.  The second time, I didn’t bother to call the office.

 

The public is under assault by J&J Towing, the incident of stealing 300+ vehicles from the I35 lots without authority to do so and the many other parking lots that accepted something of value from J&J's owner, Frank Sapp.

 

If you have been towed by J&J Towing within the past two years, you are encouraged to contact the prosecution team of Texas Towing Compliance to recover the statutory penalty of $1000 plus triple damages without paying upfront legal fees.

College Station Area Tow Victims Continue to Retain TTC attorneys

To date, 95 vehicle owners have retained the prosecution team of Texas Towing Compliance to file a Statutory Violation or Theft Liability lawsuit against towing companies, property management companies and landowners for violations of the Texas Towing Law.

What never seems to amuse me is that TDLR is telling Brazos County area tow companies their tow signs are legal, but the Courts keep finding them guilty, saddling them with huge judgments.

I can't stress the importance of questioning why your vehicle was towed, if in College Station and Bryan, Texas, as there is still no legal tow signs posted.

If you have been towed anywhere around the Texas A&M and Blinn College campus, take a photograph of the tow sign, where it is posted, the parking space you were towed from and send them along with the paperwork you recieved when paying for your vehicle to us so you can get what State Law entitles you to receive.

Also, take video of spotters working parking lots that call tow trucks, as a tow company that provides a spotter to a parking facility is something of value, which is a statutory violation of the Texas Towing Law.

Remember, if you were towed within two years of the date on your receipt, your in luck to collect and you can expect that no upfront legal fees will be collected.

It's also of vital importance that vehicle owners and operators file an online complaint with TDLR regarding the behavior of storage lot employees and tow truck operators during drop fees, as TDLR will hold them responsible with huge fines.

If you do decide to file a tow hearing, be absolutely sure you file in Bryan in Judge Lara-Hooge's Court, even if towed in College Station to receive a fair trial based on law instead of the size of the campaign donation.

Mesquite Towing Service Fined $1500 by TDLR after a Consumer Complaint

Not a day goes by that a motorists calls about their experience with a tow company or vehicle storage facility, all of which are encouraged to file an online complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations.  While some issues don't warrant a complaint, the majority of them do get the attention of TDLR who initiate an investigation, as in the case with Mesquite Towing Service.

One in particular, a vehicle owner while at Mesquite's storage facility recorded the entire episode which resulted in a complaint being filed, that was investigated, which resulted in a fine for the following:

"Respondent charged an impoundment fee but the written bill for services did not specify the exact services performed for that fee and the dates those services were performed; Respondent failed to make reasonable efforts necessary for the secure storage of the vehicle; Respondent failed to have sign posted at the VSF listing all the documents that may be presented to obtain possession of the vehicle".

Mesquite Towing Service is also a member of the Southwest Tow Operators, as is many tow companies and vehicle storage facilities who are being fined for violating the rules and regulations.

Garcia Towing of Bryan Fined $2250 after repeated complaints

After receiving several calls from motorists in Bryan and the filing of complaints against Garcia Towing, TDLR has handed down a fine of $2250.00.

Garcia was cited for the following violations of the Vehicle Storage Facility Law:

Respondent failed to separate the TOW charges from the VSF charges on a combined receipt and failed to list the towing company certificate of registration number; Respondent failed to secure vehicles in the VSF to prevent theft; Respondent charged an impoundment fee but the written bill for services did not specify the exact services performed for that fee and the dates those services were performed.

Should motorists encounter any further issues with Garcia, do not hesitate to file an online complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations, as they will be held accountable.

Garcia Towing is a member of the Southwest Tow Operators.

TDLR Seeks $5000 Penalty from Central Towing for Operating their Tow Company without Honesty, Integrity & Trustworthiness

According to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations, Central Towing has committed two violations of the Texas Towing & Booting Law: (all criminal offenses)

16 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §86.711 states: "Responsibilities of Towing Company--

Honesty, Trustworthiness, and Integrity. A towing company must conduct towing operations with honesty. trustworthiness, and integrity.“

Basis of violations:

On or about August 9, 2012, Central Towing, performed a non-consent private property tow of a 2012 Kia Optima from the parking lot of McDonald's located at 414 West Martin Luther King Blvd, Austin Texas. Central Towing Invoice 76899. At the time the vehicle was towed the vehicle owner and her child were eating lunch at the McDonald's and lawfully parked on the premises.


On or about April 17, Z013, Central Towing, performed a non-consent private property tow of a 2011 Silver Mercedes Benz in the parking lot of McDonald‘s located at 414 Martin Luther King Blvd. At the time the vehicle was towed the vehicle owner was inside the McDonald's and lawfully parked on the premises.

Performing tow operations upon legally parked vehicles constitutes the performance of tow operations without honesty. trustworthiness, and integrity.

Anyone that has been towed from or charged a drop fee at this location within the last two years is encouraged to contact the Texas Towing Compliance prosecution team at 512-236-1114 so you can recover the statutory penalty of $1000 plus triple damages (tow/storage/drop fees), payable by McDonald's and Central Towing.  (no upfront legal fees for tow victims and lien holders)

If you are a property owner, it's advised to use caution when using the services of Central Towing, as you are responsible for their actions when it comes to obeying the Law.

These cases are a product of vehicle owners filing an online complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations.

Never assume your vehicle was legally towed or the drop fee that was demanded, until fully investigated by Texas Towing Compliance's prosecution teams or law enforcement..

Southside Wrecker's APD Towing Contract for Public Viewing Since It's Not Available Online

At the link below is the revenue contract between Southside Wrecker Inc and the Austin Police Department.  Also you will find every email between City of Austin employees and parties with Southside Wrecker Inc.

Most of the city employees who were involved in the contract negotiations are no longer employed by the City of Austin.

Southside Wrecker contract

I think it's time the City of Austin audit Southside to ensure they are paying what the contract requires them to pay.

A-1 Towing Service Continues to Scam Motorists in the Bryan/College Station area

The Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations has told this company their tow signs are legal, but State Law says different, as tow victims are winning their tow hearings in Judge Lara Hooge's Court based on what State Law requires.

Everyone that has been towed by A-1 Wrecker Service from a private or public parking lot anywhere in Brazos County are due a refund, mainly because of illegal towing signs posted.

Over the past week, 30+ vehicle owners and or operators have called the 24hr Tow Victims Hotline with similar concerns.  It seems A-1's vehicle storage facility is telling motorists if they want the name of the person who authorized the tow, the TDLR license number to their tow truck operators or even their storage lot employees, they would need a court order.

Even JP Boyett says this is total bullshit, as State Law requires this information to be provided at the time of payment and stated on the receipt.  Numerous tow victims have told me, that Boyett is referring tow victims to Texas Towing Compliance to retain an attorney to go after these dishonest tow companies for their deceptive business practices.

Everyone towed by A-1 is encouraged to take advantage of Texas Towing Compliance's prosecution team that charged no upfront legal fees to file the Theft Liability or Statutory Violation lawsuit, so you can be paid $1000 plus triple damages.

The issue with A-1's tow signs is the top part of the sign where the tow symbol is located must be a solid white background all the way across the sign. In A-1's sign, it's red.

If towed, take photos of their tow signs, where you were parked and email those photos and your paperwork when paying out your vehicle to here.

Bobby New Threatens Car Lot Owner with Arrest if Media exposes him

The Austin Police Department's tow contractor, for over 30 years, Southside Wrecker's owner today,  threatened to have arrested a local used car dealer if he went to the media about the delay notification letter scam.  New has claimed many times that he has APD in his back pocket, but according to Chief Acevedo, that is simply not so.

Just because Southside has several family members who have retired from the Austin Police Department, Bobby New has no authority to have anyone arrested, especially for airing his backroom negotiations with the City of Austin in reference to their contract to the media.

If New is concerned about media coverage reference this issue, the City Council and the public will have their opportunity to see for themselves on March 27th during Citizens Communications.

Bexar Towing - Everybody Towed or Booted Since 9/1/2013 is Due Big Bucks Because of Illegal Tow Signs

Everybody that has been towed by Bexar Towing while attending events or even the citizens of San Antonio since September 1, 2013 are all entitled to a huge payout.  Bexar Towing, like the other towing companies in San Antonio, have failed to obey the changes in the Texas Towing & Booting Act (TTBA) with regards to signage.

Considering John Deloach, the owner of Bexar Towing is facing a huge STATE fine for overcharging the city regulated tow fee and continues to tow vehicles in violation of the TTBA, it shows the true character of Deloach.

What makes all the towing signs illegal that are provided to parking facilities, including all of the COSA tow signs is real simple, see below:

Sec. 2308.301. General Requirements for Sign Prohibiting Unauthorized Vehicles

(b) Except as provided by Section 2308.305, an unauthorized vehicle may be towed under Section 2308.252(a)(1) or booted under Section 2308.257 only if each sign prohibiting unauthorized vehicles:
(1) is made of weather-resistant material;
(2) is at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall;
(3) contains the international symbol for towing vehicles;
(4) contains a statement describing who may park in the parking facility and prohibiting all others;
(5) bears the words, as applicable:

(A) "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed or Booted at Owner's or Operator's Expense";
(B) "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed at Owner's or Operator's Expense"; or
(C) "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Booted at Owner's or Operator's Expense";

(6) contains a statement of the days and hours of towing and booting enforcement

Sec. 2308.302. Color, Layout, and Lettering Height Requirements.

(a) Except as provided by Section 2308.305, each sign required by this chapter must comply with the color, layout, and lettering height requirements of this section.
(b) A bright red international towing symbol, which is a solid silhouette of a tow truck towing a vehicle on a generally rectangular white background, at least four inches in height, must be on the uppermost portion of a sign or on a separate sign placed immediately above the sign.
(c) The portion of the sign immediately below the international towing symbol must:
(1) in lettering at least two inches in height, contain the words, as applicable:

(A) "Towing and Booting Enforced";
(B) "Towing Enforced"; or
(C) "Booting Enforced"

 I am sure Deloach will claim that Towing Enforced At All Times is legal, but the 5th Court of Appeals ruled last week that text in quotes cannot have text added to a quoted phrase.

Also Deloach will say the time period to file for a tow hearing has expired, but in cases as Deloach and all the other tow companies in Bexar County, a Theft Liability Lawsuit is filed against the tow company and the landowner to where the vehicle towed from.

So, what this means is real simple: whatever you paid to retrieve your vehicle, paid a drop fee or boot fee, each and every vehicle owner can expect to recover $1000 plus triple damages and your attorney's fees.  Most people might say they don't have the money to pay an attorney, but all of the prosecution teams who represent tow victims who contact Texas Towing Compliance will take your case with no upfront legal fees.

So, if you are towed in San Antonio, take a photograph of the towing sign that should posted when you enter the parking facility. After taking these photographs, contact or email the San Antonio Police Department at 210-207-2348 to file criminal charges, file an online complaint (send photos) with TDLR due to illegal signage posted and contact the prosecution teams to represent you in recovering what STATE LAW says you are entitled to.

We have two groups of prosecution teams who will take your case if towed in the San Antonio metro area with no upfront legal fees.

San Antonio: 210-928-9999   Austin 512-236-1114

Everyone Towed by J&J Towing in Austin is Entitled to Money Due to Illegal Tow Signs

Anyone towed or charged a drop fee within the past year by the notorious J&J Towing Service in Austin, Texas, 2014 will be the year to collect on money you paid them to retrieve your vehicle at several locations.

Franklin Sapp has been in the service station and towing business for over 40 years, built a reputation of himself as being honest but, supplements the income of property managers and business owners from where vehicles are being towed from.

State Law Prohibits Kickbacks of Any Type

J&J drivers can seen speeding to their storage lot off Bolm Road and Ed Bluestien with no safety chains, some vehicle taking of two vehicles and most front wheel drive vehicle damaged due to being dragged in park across the parking lot.

Furthermore, none of the towing signs that bear J&J Towing's name are in compliance with State Law.  If you are towed from a parking lot and the towing sign states: "Towing Enforced At All Times", your in luck to collect $1000 plus triple damages, because the phrase underneath the towing symbol can only say "Towing Enforced".

Central Parking Systems & J&J Towing Engaging in Organized Crime for Financial Gain Against Public

Anybody who's vehicle was towed since September 1, 2013, from a Central Parking Systems parking lot anywhere in Austin is entitled to big bucks, as the towing signs provided by J&J Towing fail to meet the requirements of the Texas Towing Law.

The main issue is the required text that must be on the sign with no added text.  The phrase in the red background directly below the tow truck symbol must state: "Towing Enforced", not "Towing Enforced At All Times".

Since Frank Sapp, the owner of TJ Towing Service LC dba J&J Towing has made zero effort to provide legally worded tow signs to their accounts, now they are being faced with Statutory Violation Lawsuits that allow attorney fees and the civil penalty of $1000 plus triple damages.

If you or anyone you know has been towed by J&J Towing, please contact our prosecution team at 512-236-1114.  Sapp knows all to well about our team, as he has been found guilty several times already and is facing more lawsuits against himself and the landowner to where the vehicle was towed.

Be sure to call 311 and file an offense report for a wrecker ordinance violation and file an online complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations for illegal signs posted.

Underneath Interstate 35 Towing Scandal Reveals Criminal Behavior by J&J Towing

 
Everybody that saw their vehicle towed away from underneath the freeway between 6th and 8th Street between 3am and 5am by TJ's Towing Service LC DBA J&J Towing is entitled to big bucks.

According to the City of Austin in an email this morning:

"the City does not have a Towing Contract with TJ'S TOWING SERVICE, LC.  The City had a parking facilities management contract with ALRIGHT CENTRAL PARKING that expired 6-18-2012 and TJ’s Towing Service was the sub that provided towing services for Central Parking".

Basically, J&J Towing's drivers have been stealing vehicles for past 14 months directly across the street from the Police Station.

Everybody that has been towed between June 19, 2012 until now are urged to contact the Texas Towing Compliance prosecution team at 512-236-1114, because under State Law, you are entitled to $1000 plus triple what you paid to get your vehicle back, in addition to the cost of repairs for damage caused during the removal and storage.  We can get the money you are owed with no upfront legal fees..

J&J Towing is a member of the Austin Towing Association and the Southwest Tow Operators. 

Vehicle owners are urged to file an online complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations against J&J Towing for the main reason of not having authority to remove vehicles.

Unauthorized Drop Fee Scam - $1000 to Vehicle Owner or Operator for Violation of Texas Towing Law

Many tow truck drivers throughout Texas continue to charge unauthorized drop fees to vehicle owners or operators to release their vehicle on private property.  They do this because the Texas regulatory agency, the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation has yet to issue a fine to a tow truck operator, for violating the Texas Towing Law.

The pictures below is when you should never pay a tow truck driver a drop fee:

:

You should always engage the tow truck operator when seen hooking up your vehicle and say, "DO NOT TOW MY VEHICLE", at which time, they are required to release your vehicle at no charge.  If they do charge you a drop fee during the loading process as shown above, make sure you get a receipt and record the entire event with your cellphone, video camera or camera.

Below are pictures of when you MUST pay the tow truck operator, make sure you get the receipt as the parking facility you were being towed from might not be in compliance of State Law.

Drop Fees FAQs

1. What is a drop fee?

A drop fee is a charge offered instead of a towing fee that allows the vehicle operator to stop the tow without paying the full tow charge and additional storage charges.

2. What does the term "hooked up" mean?

Hooked up means the vehicle is fully prepared for transport by attachment to a tow truck, lifted in tow position, with tow lights and safety chains attached and, if required, placed on a dolly in a raised position and the only thing remaining is for the tow operator to drive away.

3. What does the phrase vehicle owner or representative "attempts to retrieve the motor vehicle" mean?

For purposes of paying the drop charge, the terms vehicle owner or representative means any person who offers to pay the drop charge to stop the tow. Attempt to retrieve the motor vehicle means any verbal request that a reasonable person would understand to mean, "Do not tow my car."

4. What does the phrase "before its removal from the property" mean?

The phrase "before its removal from the property" refers to vehicles parked on property other than a public roadway. Until the tow truck enters a public street, road or highway, the vehicle owner or operator has an absolute right to regain possession of the vehicle by payment of the drop charge.

5. What does the phrase "before its removal from the parked location" mean?

The phrase "before its removal from the parked location" refers to vehicles parked on a public roadway. Until the vehicle is hooked up, as described in the definition of hooked up, and the tow operator drives away, the vehicle has not been moved from its parked location.

6. Can I charge a drop fee if the owner or operator arrives to move the vehicle before I have it fully hooked up?

No. You must allow the owner or operator to move the vehicle.

7. Can I charge a drop fee if the owner or operator arrives after the car is hooked up but before I've left the property or its parked location?

Yes. You must tell the owner or operator that they can pay you on the spot to drop the vehicle.

8. Do I have to offer to unhook the vehicle for a drop fee, if the owner or operator arrives when the vehicle is in tow,  but before I've left the property?

Yes. If the vehicle is fully hooked up and you are in transport, but you are still on the property, you are required to tell the owner or operator that they may pay a drop fee.

9. Does the tow truck operator have to offer to unhook the vehicle for a drop fee, if the owner or operator arrives after I've left the property with the vehicle in tow?

No, once in transport on a public roadway off the property, you may proceed to a licensed vehicle storage facility.

10. What form of payment can an owner or operator use to pay for a drop fee?

You must accept cash, debit cards and credit cards.

If you are charged an unauthorized drop fee, consult an attorney and sue to towing company and property owner for committing the violation of the Texas Towing Law, and you could be entitled to a $1000 plus three times what you were charged.

To get this type of recovery with no upfront legal fees, contact in DFW, in San Antonio, Austin or anywhere in Texas  

Southside Wrecker Inc Delay Notification Letter Scam with the City of Austin taking advantage of the Public

Stunning!! 

The Austin Police Department's Towing Contractor, Southside Wrecker is burning the citizens of Central Texas in a major way. It has been learned, based on documents provided by USPS and Southside Wrecker given to the City Auditor investigators, APD's towing contractor is electronically mailing the notification letters from a post office in Little Rock, Arkansas, instead the post office in Austin.

Based on the USPS local postmaster (the method used by Southside and other towing companies, who are all members of the Southwest Tow Operators ) it takes 9 -10 days for a registered letter to reach an Austin address from Little Rock, Arkansas.

According to the postmaster, when the same registered letter is mailed in person to or electronically at the Cross Park Post Office in Austin, it takes 2 days to reach an Austin address.

The sole purpose of using an out of state Post Office, is so storage related charges will greatly inflate the tow and storage charges bill before the vehicle owner or lienholder finds out, knows where the vehicle is. 

After nine days in storage, what would have released on the 2nd day with the notification letter for: $264.35 goes to $435.95 if paid out at 10 days.

Lienholders and Vehicle Owners are really pissed that Bobby New, the president of Southside Wrecker Inc would stoop this low in order to run up costs, by delaying the process to notify them where their vehicles are. Your dad "Luther" would never do what you have been doing to citizens of Austin.

Pure scam targeting Austinites, businesses, college students, their parents, insurance companies, lienholders, Velocity Credit Union members and thousands of vehicle owners who's vehicle were stored after being towed by the Austin Police Department and Reliant Towing.

According to TDLR, a vehicle storage facility cannot charge the $50 notification fee if sent electronically, as no labor is involved, as delivered in person at the post office.

The public is asked to write the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations to request a rule change in the Vehicle Storage Facility program, that requires the notification letter electronically, doing must be within the county the storage facility is located in.  

Also email the Austin City Council members about this scam to gouge motorists that benefits the city of austin general fund since three sitting council members accepted cash contributions to their campaigns that led to the towing contract being approved by ordinance.

 

Wells Fargo's 2014 SXSW Tow Scam in Austin, Texas Latest Towing Scam Featuring Central Towing & the bank property owners

Everyone who has been towed from the Wells Fargo Bank at  501 South Congress Avenue is due a refund, from Wells Fargo Bank, since they authorized the tow.

One of the three curb cut (driveway) entering the bank parking facility lacks the required signage.

Since the bank drive thru driveway exceeds 35' in width, it would require two signs, one on both sides of the driveway.

Vehicle owners who where towed or even charged an on property drop charge by Central Towing from this bank parking lot is urged to call 512-974-5000 to file an offense report for a wrecker ordinance violation, four motorists already have.  APD CASE #: 2013-5024970

Austin Police Department Detective Robert Loosier will be investigating and arresting those wrecker drivers responsible. Seems Central Towing's owner and the Detective are familiar with this type incident, since it's identical to the Whataburger tow scam during a free concert night in 2009 during SXSW.

Vehicle owners towed are also urged to file an online complaint against Central Towing with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations, by clicking here.

All of these victims of this towing scam contacted me thru Texas Towing Compliance's website for illegal towing issues and concerns.

SXSW Warning: Predatory Towing Will Ruin Your Experience & Be Costly

The many thousands of visitors attending SXSW events should do everything possible to avoid parking within private parking lots. Austin area predatory tow companies, their drivers and parking facility owners/operators are ready to make motorist's experience one they will not soon forget.

You can expect to see tow truck drivers charge on-property drop fees when not allowed, tow your vehicle to another location other than a state licensed storage facility, instead of going directly to the storage lot, burglarize your locked vehicle, and make questionable tows because of the profit sharing between the tow company and the parking facility.

If you do park on private parking lots, use your cellphone to take pictures of the red and white towing sign, where they are posted and the parking space your vehicle could be towed from, prior to embarking on the walk to the event your going to.

If you are towed by J & J Towing from a parking lot that bears the name "Central Parking" or from underneath the freeway between 8th and 6th Streets, your in luck to collect $1600 if you pay $193.30.  For more information regarding this tow scam, call 512-236-1114.

Should you find your vehicle has been towed, be sure to call 311 to file an offense report for a wrecker ordinance violation and who towed your vehicle.

If a tow truck driver attempts to charge you a drop fee, take video with your phone of when you caught the driver hooking up your vehicle, then call 911 to report the driver for trying to charge you an unauthorized drop fee.  It's best to get inside your vehicle after obtaining this video and calling 911 and it's illegal to tow a vehicle with someone inside it.

Every storage lot that receives private property impounds are required to accept credit cards, debit cards and cash to pay out your vehicle.  For drop fees, the tow truck operator must 30 minutes to allow you to obtain the money.

Never assume your vehicle was legally towed, as most Austin area towing company give something of value to the parking facility in connection with the removal of your vehicle.

Should you be victimized by a tow company, contact Texas Towing Compliance at 512-680-3190 as they a legal team who will represent you with no upfront legal fees to recover the civil penalty behind your vehicle being illegally towed.

Texas State Senator John Carona Meets Same Fate as Tuffy Hamilton Over Towing Legislation

The voters in Dallas County decided to remove John Carona from office after years in the Texas Legislature of accepting money from the predatory towing industry and special interest for the sole purpose of corporate greed.

Carona was responsible for the passage of legislation that stripped the rights of vehicle owner across the state from having their attorney fees included in Tow Hearings and Statutory Violation Lawsuit.  Carona also decided to push the legislation that decriminalized kickbacks in the form of free towing signs to parking facilities, something he directly benefited from financially being the owner of a large property management company, that allow member companies of the Southwest Tow Operators to terrorize their residents and guest.

Carona and Hamilton have now been voted out of office for causing millions of Texans and out of state tourists grave financial problems due to their desire to accept bribes disguised as campaign donations from criminal organizations, aka predatory towing companies..

15 More Complaints Against Tribble & Son Wrecker Service Referred to Prosecution

Not a day goes by that someone from the College Station area calls the Tow Victims Hotline (512-680-3190) to complain about being scammed by Tribble & Son Wrecker Service, due to illegal towing signs posted at the parking lot they were towed from.

I would say that Anthony Tribble is in for a fight, as his predatory towing company and his private property accounts will be saddled with huge judgements for more than $10,000 for every vehicle owner or operator who has retained the legal services of the Austin based law firm of Walters Dunn.

While the many victims of Anthony Tribble's unscrupulous business practices will not have to worry about paying upfront legal and filing fees, Tribble and his accounts are facing huge legal fees for a battle they will not prevail in Court.

There is no valid reason why the College Station Police Department continues to allow local towing companies to engage in organized criminal activity against the citizens of College Station for financial gain with zero intervention from law enforcement when towed from private parking lots with illegal towing signs posted.

The Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, based on complaints filed by vehicle owners has already fined Tribble $15,750 for their behavior and sentenced him to two years probation.  Additional complaints continue to be filed with TDLR as Tribble has made zero effort to comply with the Texas Towing Law.

The most recent incident with Tribble occurred when a Federal Judge from Del Rio who attended an event at the Bush Library, was called a wetback while at their vehicle storage facility based solely on his Hispanic name on his driver license, when asked to see the storage lot employee's TDLR license.

This behavior by Tribble and local law enforcement refusing to involve themselves in enforcing the Texas Towing Law cannot be allowed to continue.

So remember, if you are towed by Tribble & Son Wrecker Service, take photographs of the towing signs posted, the parking space towed from, scan the receipts given to you at the storage and email them to the WaltersDunn who get you $1000 plus triple damages, which includes the cost of repairs for damage done to your vehicle during the removal and storage.

Pay $300, get back $1800 with no upfront legal or filing fees...What a deal to seek revenge for your rights being violated by any towing company in Brazos County..

Statute of limitation is two years from the date your vehicle was towed.

Keep filing online complaints with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations against any towing company or vehicle storage facility located in Brazos County to ensure they will be held accountable.

University of Texas Students & Parents Targeted in Ongoing Predatory Tow Scam Conspiracy

No Towing Sign Posted at 21st Street Facing Driver

No towing sign posted at the Whitis Avenue driveway "within" parking lot at 2008 Whitis Avenue
the signs on wall of Dobie Mall Garage (2005 Whitis Avenue) are not part of parking lot

Every person towed from the Central Parking Lot (2008 Whitis Avenue) across from Dobie Mall and the UT Campus is in for a landfall, as every vehicle has been illegally towed.

The towing signs and parking space signs posted on the wall of the Dobie Mall Parking Garage (2005 Whitis Avenue) do not comply with State Law regarding the placement where  these signs must be posted within the parking lot of 2008 Whitis Avenue.
  
Sec. 2308.301. General Requirements for Sign Prohibiting Unauthorized Vehicles.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a)(2)(B) and Section 2308.304 or 2308.305, an unauthorized vehicle may not be towed under Section 2308.252(a)(1) or booted under Section 2308.257 unless a sign prohibiting unauthorized vehicles on a parking facility is:

(1) facing and conspicuously visible to the driver of a vehicle that enters the facility;
(2) located:

(A) on the right or left side of each driveway or curb-cut through which a vehicle can enter the facility, including an entry from an alley abutting the facility; or
(B) at intervals along the entrance so that no entrance is farther than 25 feet from a sign if:

(i) curbs, access barriers, landscaping, or driveways do not establish definite vehicle entrances onto a parking facility from a public roadway other than an alley; and
(ii) the width of an entrance exceeds 35 feet;

(3) permanently mounted on a pole, post, permanent wall, or permanent barrier;
(4) installed on the parking facility;

I am positive nobody is aware of this major discrepancy on behalf of Central Parking, University Catholic Church and J&J Towing.  This behavior by all three parties is highly unethical and criminal in nature with the motoring public being burned every time a vehicle is towed.

The sole towing sign posted "within" the 2008 Whitis Avenue parking lot has the language, "In Designated Spaces", meaning every parking space within the Central Parking lot must be marked in the front and rear of each space, to which none are, another statutory violation.

Sec. 2308.304. Designation of Restricted Parking Spaces on Otherwise Unrestricted Parking Facility.

A parking facility owner may designate one or more spaces as restricted parking spaces on a portion of an otherwise unrestricted parking facility. Instead of installing a sign at each entrance to the parking facility as provided by Section 2308.301(a)(2), an owner may place a sign that prohibits unauthorized vehicles from parking in designated spaces and that otherwise complies with Sections 2308.301 and 2308.302:

(1) at the right or left side of each entrance to a designated area or group of parking spaces located on the restricted portion of the parking facility; or

(2) at the end of a restricted parking space so that the sign, the top of which must not be higher than seven feet above the ground, is in front of a vehicle that is parked in the space and the rear of which is at the entrance of the space.

Considering there are three entry points into this parking lot, two the entry points have none of the required towing signs posted, conspicuously visible to the driver of a vehicle entering.

Regardless the reason towed or charged a drop fee from this parking lot, everyone is entitled to $1600 if they paid $193.30 to retrieve their vehicle from J&J Towing.

The statute of limitation on a Statutory Violation or Theft Liability lawsuit is two years from the date your vehicle was towed.  So find your receipts and contact the Texas Towing Compliance Legal Team at 512-236-1114 who will represent you in this matter with no upfront legal fees.


There have been confirmed reports that J&J Towing is stashing vehicles towed from this parking lot down the street, instead of taking the vehicles directly to the storage facility.  This is done so one tow truck can  remove multiple vehicles quickly, then make trips towing the impounded vehicles to their storage lot.  This behavior is criminal as well, but tow victim are unaware the regulations towing companies and parking facilities "must" obey to legally tow vehicles without the owner or operator consent.

If you have been towed from this parking lot at 2008 Whitis Avenue, you are urged to file an online complaint against J&J Towing with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulations.

Texas Towing Compliance has secured all the evidence (photos/video) required to prevail in Court. Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to call the Tow Victims 24HR Hotline at 512-680-3190.

Remember, there are no upfront legal or filing fees to get this money your entitled to, so take advantage of your rights guaranteed by State Law.

Sec. 2308.404. Civil Liability of Towing Company, Booting Company, or Parking Facility Owner for Violation of Chapter.

(a) A towing company, booting company, or parking facility owner who violates this chapter is liable to the owner or operator of the vehicle that is the subject of the violation for:

(1) damages arising from the removal, storage, or booting of the vehicle; and
(2) towing, storage, or booting fees assessed in connection with the vehicle's removal, storage, or booting.

(b) A vehicle's owner or operator is not required to prove negligence of a parking facility owner, towing company, or booting company to recover under Subsection (a).
(c) A towing company, booting company, or parking facility owner who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly violates this chapter is liable to the owner or operator of the vehicle that is the subject of the violation for $1,000 plus three times the amount of fees assessed in the vehicle's removal, towing, storage, or booting.