OK Auto Board, help me out.
My car was towed tonight when it was parked in a spot without any signage indicating that it was private property and subject to being towed.
There were ~9 or 10 spaces, 8 of them had signs in front of each space, and I did not park there. The 8th spot, which had a sign, was occupied by a dumpster. Spots 9 & 10 were on the other side of the dumpster, but had no signage in front of them, and I parked in spot 10, the very end.
Looking online about towing, it is pretty clear that without signage, it is not a legal tow. Some websites recommend talking to the owner, but I'm not so sure I want to tip my hand on it if they refuse.
Anybody have experience they want to share.
Thanks.
PS 2008 Scion xB 5 Speed is my car.
This is where I parked.
This is other empty space, you can see the dumpster to the right.
This is the sign in the space to the right of the dumpster.
New Mexico Code:
(4) Trespass tows: No towing service shall attach hoisting or towing devices or move, tow or molest in any way, any motor vehicle illegally parked on property other than a public roadway without having first obtained written authorization from the owner or lessee of the property, or the owner's or lessee's agent. Written authorization shall include the name and signature of the owner or lessee of the property or the name and signature of the property owner's or lessee's agent if different, the location of the private property, the amount of time the motor vehicle has been on the property, a description of the vehicle, the date and time the towing service removed the vehicle from the property, and a statement by the owner, lessee or agent that the vehicle is illegally parked.
(a) Before towing a motor vehicle that is illegally parked on private property, the towing service shall take a digital photograph or photographs of the motor vehicle showing its position on the private property.
(b) No towing service shall attach hoisting or towing devices or move, tow or molest in any way, any motor vehicle illegally parked on commercial property or at an apartment unless the property contains visible signs notifying the public that illegally parked motor vehicles may be towed. The visible signs shall specify the exact time periods (starting and ending hours) when the vehicle is determined to be "illegally parked" on commercial property or at an apartment house. Before towing a motor vehicle that is illegally parked on private commercial property or at an apartment, the towing service shall take a digital photograph or photographs of the signage notifying the public that illegally parked motor vehicles may be towed.
I was not going to park in any space that had signage, and I didn't.
The concrete bumpers are painted red, but that is not a sign. The first 8 spots each had a sign, but these 2 did not. It's in a strip mall, and there is not any physical demarcation between property locations.
My car was towed tonight when it was parked in a spot without any signage indicating that it was private property and subject to being towed.
There were ~9 or 10 spaces, 8 of them had signs in front of each space, and I did not park there. The 8th spot, which had a sign, was occupied by a dumpster. Spots 9 & 10 were on the other side of the dumpster, but had no signage in front of them, and I parked in spot 10, the very end.
Looking online about towing, it is pretty clear that without signage, it is not a legal tow. Some websites recommend talking to the owner, but I'm not so sure I want to tip my hand on it if they refuse.
Anybody have experience they want to share.
Thanks.
PS 2008 Scion xB 5 Speed is my car.
This is where I parked.
This is other empty space, you can see the dumpster to the right.
This is the sign in the space to the right of the dumpster.
New Mexico Code:
(4) Trespass tows: No towing service shall attach hoisting or towing devices or move, tow or molest in any way, any motor vehicle illegally parked on property other than a public roadway without having first obtained written authorization from the owner or lessee of the property, or the owner's or lessee's agent. Written authorization shall include the name and signature of the owner or lessee of the property or the name and signature of the property owner's or lessee's agent if different, the location of the private property, the amount of time the motor vehicle has been on the property, a description of the vehicle, the date and time the towing service removed the vehicle from the property, and a statement by the owner, lessee or agent that the vehicle is illegally parked.
(a) Before towing a motor vehicle that is illegally parked on private property, the towing service shall take a digital photograph or photographs of the motor vehicle showing its position on the private property.
(b) No towing service shall attach hoisting or towing devices or move, tow or molest in any way, any motor vehicle illegally parked on commercial property or at an apartment unless the property contains visible signs notifying the public that illegally parked motor vehicles may be towed. The visible signs shall specify the exact time periods (starting and ending hours) when the vehicle is determined to be "illegally parked" on commercial property or at an apartment house. Before towing a motor vehicle that is illegally parked on private commercial property or at an apartment, the towing service shall take a digital photograph or photographs of the signage notifying the public that illegally parked motor vehicles may be towed.
I was not going to park in any space that had signage, and I didn't.
The concrete bumpers are painted red, but that is not a sign. The first 8 spots each had a sign, but these 2 did not. It's in a strip mall, and there is not any physical demarcation between property locations.
