CHARLOTTE — Hannah Flynn said she was in SouthEnd for a going-away party.
She said she parked in a strip mall lot, but didn’t see the towing sign, and that — even if she had — she doubts she would have done anything differently. After all, the sign said “Towing Enforced The Mark Customer Parking Only.” But where’s The Mark?
Action 9 didn’t see those words anywhere else and assumed it was the name of the shopping center, but even someone who worked there didn’t know for sure.
Flynn came back a few hours later, and her car was gone, she said. She thought maybe it was stolen. That was until she saw the towing sign.
[ READ: Tow company charges truck company thousands of dollars for warning others ]
She called the tow company, and they wanted more than $400. She said she waited to get the car the next day and that they charged her $350 if she paid cash. So that’s what she did.
Flynn said she hopes some good comes from this. She wants you to know: Be careful where you park.
“I wasn’t trying to get away with something,” she told Action 9 attorney Jason Stoogenke. “Spend 20 more minutes and drive around and find a new parking spot.”
The company — Wheel Blockers — emailed Stoogenke, “It is unfortunate that Hannah felt entitled to deliberately park and trespass on private property. As a good citizen [sic] it is important to respect the rights and wishes of others. Hopefully moving forward Hannah will not assume personal rights to other’s [sic] property and knowingly park her car where signs are clearly posted. As a business [sic] we follow all city ordinances and state laws and wish Hannah the very best.”
What you should know about towing:
- This took place on private property. When you park on private property, it can be hard to win a dispute.
- The City of Charlotte’s rules:
- There have to be signs on the property warning you about towing.
- They have to be easy to read.
- The tow company has to accept cash and two major credit cards.
- It has to have someone on-call who can release your vehicle within 45 minutes.
- You’re entitled to retrieve your personal property from the vehicle.
- North Carolina lawmakers are considering even more rules for tow companies. But it’s not clear if the bill will make it out of committee.
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WATCH: Tow company charges truck company thousands of dollars for warning others
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