CHARLOTTE — A truck driver was billed $9,000 in towing and impound fees after his semi-truck exceeded a free parking limit by 30 minutes in Charlotte.
The vehicle was towed from a lot off Sunset Road following a historic snowstorm while the area was under a state of emergency.
The $9,000 itemized bill included $7,000 for impound and towing, $500 for vehicle storage, and a $1,500 gate administrative fee.
North Carolina state law does not set maximum allowable rates for nonconsensual private property towing, allowing towing companies to determine their own pricing structure.
Truck driver Donald Hicklin Jr. recalled his reaction upon receiving the statement for his semi-truck. “I was floored. I was at a loss for words,” Hicklin said.
He noted that the company applied multiple separate line items for the service. “They charge you to hook up to your truck. They charge you to disconnect from your truck. They also got an additional fee for towing your truck to the place,” Hicklin explained.
Hicklin voiced frustration over the state’s current regulations, adding, “Oh, it’s beyond excessive. It’s predatory!” and “They just take advantage of the laws.”
According to the American Trucking Associations, only 12 states set maximum heavy-duty tow rates for nonconsensual private property tows.
North Carolina is not among those 12 states, leaving towing fees unregulated at the state level. A sign posted outside the lot off Sunset Road displayed different price points from what Hicklin was ultimately billed.
The situation has drawn attention from local officials. Charlotte City Councilwoman At-Large Dimple Ajmera stated that she has received multiple complaints from constituents regarding private towing practices.
“Yes, you have a right as a property owner, but it does not give anyone the right to take advantage of our community,” Ajmera said.
She is working with city staff to evaluate potential municipal measures, including creating a system to refer repeat predatory towing offenders to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office and increasing financial penalties for violations.
For drivers considering legal action against towing practices, claims often center on statutes prohibiting unfair or deceptive trade practices.
To prevail in court, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the business engaged in unfair or deceptive conduct, that the action involved commerce, and that the conduct caused specific financial injury.
In cases where a plaintiff wins an unfair or deceptive trade practice lawsuit, court awards can be multiplied by three under applicable law.
American Trucking Associations data on state heavy-duty towing rate regulations.
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