A CADILLAC owner was filmed yelling obscenities at tow truckers after they dared to haul his beloved vehicle right in front of him.
But they told him he could avoid racking up thousands of dollars in parking fines if he spent less money on painting his car.
The confrontation was one of many filmed in the streets of Philadelphia for A&E show Parking Wars.
In one clip, Frank and Bob, who work for Philadelphia Parking Authority, were shown preparing for their favorite time of day.
“We’re going to go now on the streets, booting cars tonight getting all the crooks that owe the parking authority money,” said Bob.
Bob said he had been “booting” for three years, and preferred to work night shifts so he could spend the day with his wife and kids.
Booting at night, it’s basically just watching your partner’s back. Make sure nobody attacks them.
Bob, tow truck driver
“Been doing it from 5:00 at night to 1:00 in the morning. We’re like vampires. We work the night shift.
“Booting at night, it’s basically just watching your partner’s back. Make sure nobody attacks them.
“My (towing) partner, Frank, he’s a good guy. We both started over here together.”
Frank has been married for about 20 years, has three kids and has been booting for several years.
The men told the camera that things get fairly hectic at night, because people in the street might be drunk, and danger is never far away.
CRAZY PHILLY STREET
“Just the atmosphere at night’s pretty crazy. People are out drinking. You never know what the night’s going to bring,” said Bob.
“You do encounter those times when they just start flipping out, you know.
“They don’t want their cars taken away from them. But I mean, that’s our job.”
The men were filmed arriving in busy South Street, one of Philadelphia’s most famous streets with shops and restaurants.
What is the Parking Wars show about?
It’s an American reality television series
Parking Wars is a reality series that premiered on A&E in 2008.
Employees of Philadelphia Parking Authority have been filmed on the job as they go on their daily rounds, towing vehicles.
The A&E show is split into three segments: the impound lot, booting/towing, and ticketing.
Staff frequently deal with irate locals while issuing citations, boot vehicles and towing cars.
The series also follows the ticket-writers and booters of Detroit’s Municipal Parking Department.
All of a sudden they noticed what they dub a “heavy hitter” – or a vehicle that has racked up big parking fines.
“Heavy hitter means (the owner) owes (the parking authority) $700 or more; big heavy hitter (means) they owe two grand,” explained Frank.
“Well, heavy hitters, you have to move a little bit quicker because they know they’re heavy hitters.”
“You got to be pretty quick to get on and off,” added Bob.
The camera showed them stopping in the street, after spotting a Cadillac that had to be towed due to spiralling unpaid fines.
“Woah, woah, hold on a second,” a man shouted off-camera.
LOCKED UP
The vehicle’s angry owner, Joseph, tried to reason with Frank and Bob, before swearing at them and trying to stop them from taking his beloved car away.
“Dude, you want to get locked up? You want to get locked up? Move back,” ordered Frank.
They said that Joseph owed more than $2,000 in parking fines.
“Hardworking people are leaving this… city because of you… mobsters,” Joseph replied.
“You spent all this money for this paint job on this car and don’t pay your tickets,” Frank pointed out.
Joseph then told them both to get a real badge and solve some “real crime.”
POLICE CALLED
As Bob and Frank were struggling to attach the vehicle to their van, they ordered a tow truck, with better equipment.
A police officer then arrived at the scene as tensions boiled over.
As Joseph left the area, he told the camera crew that the parking staff were haunting the area.
“Parking authority is like (a) ghost. They float through walls and ruin people’s lives and it’s ridiculous,” he said.
“I’m the first one to man up and take responsibility for any of my issues but this is extortion.”
What to do if your car is towed
Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.
Steps to take when your car is towed:
- Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted “No Parking” sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.
If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:
- Be prompt – many states have a small window of time where it’s acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.
- Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.
- Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm
A third tow truck driver who was called to the scene, Dave, told the TV crew that such encounters were at risk of getting out-of-hand.
“It can be a challenge, you know, you got people yelling at you, People taking their frustration out on you,” said Dave.
“The police are always constantly around this area, so we don’t have any problem.”
VIOLATORS BEWARE
Frank and Bob said they had just one message to share with Joseph.
“You racked up all those tickets. The only person you have to blame is yourself,” they said.
“You spend all that money on a fancy paint job and you don’t bother to pay your tickets.
“Come on, your priorities are like, a little screwed up.
“Violators beware, we’re on the way!”
Credit: Source link
