A STRICT new parking crackdown left a family stranded when their car was towed without warning while they were hiking in the Rocky Mountains.
Adam Dickerson was hiking with his family on Guanella Pass, Colorado, during the recent Labor Day weekend.
A family was left stranded with no cell phone reception after their car was towed from Guanella Pass[/caption]
The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office is getting harder on cars parked along the roadways of the area[/caption]
While parking at Guanella Pass is permitted, authorities reiterated that cars can only stop in designated areas off the road[/caption]
But according to 9News, the Dickerson family‘s hike happened to take place just before the annual leaf-peeping season – during a crackdown on illegal parking implemented after first responders faced difficulties reaching emergencies last year due to traffic congestion.
But the warning came too late for the Dickersons – who experienced this first-hand just how far authorities were willing to go.
On August 31, their car was towed without warning while they were hiking and, with no cell service in the area, they struggled to find help.
Dickerson said: “The hike was great, we came down, and there’s no cars on the road at all.
“And so, it was confusing, but quickly we realized that the car was towed.”
At one point, Dickerson said his 71-year-old mother was forced to try to flag down cars and ask rangers for help, with the family eventually having to hitchhike to Georgetown then back up to Silver Plume where their car had been towed.
“We were happy no one was hurt, like we’re all safe, we made it,” Dickerson said.
“But it didn’t seem like the details shook out well enough for us to make it through without a ton of turmoil.”
In total, 12 cars were towed on August 31, according to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office.
Now, new communication measures will be implemented, with deputies planning to leave notes under rocks where vehicles were towed.
“Let me be clear, if you are parked on the roadway, we will tow you,” said Clear Creek County Sheriff Matt Harris.
A shuttle bus service will also be provided to run up and down the pass to pick up stranded hikers.
Captain Eric Rubin said: “Is it clumsy? Yes, it is.
“Is it perhaps effective? We’re going to find out because this is the first year we’ve done this.”
While parking at Guanella Pass is permitted, authorities reiterated that cars can only stop in designated areas off the road – with no parking allowed on the roadway or shoulders.
Vehicles must be completely off the road, with strict no-parking rules in effect due to overuse.
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
