AN unlabeled parking spot caused a major issue for one motorist last weekend, costing her a thousand dollars in the end.
She and many others had their cars towed by a local sports facility which was frustratingly low on free spots due to a busy weekend schedule.
Stryker Sports Complex’s chaotic weekend schedule caused major issues for many[/caption]
One of the many parking restriction notices at Stryker[/caption]
Cristina Rivera was forced to extend a weekend trip in Kansas after her car was towed from Stryker Sports Complex, leaving her unexpectedly paying for Ubers, meals, and housing.
However, the spot Rivera chose to park in did not have any signage indicating it as a no parking zone.
“This particular spot, where you see my car, is not labeled at all ‘no parking,’” Rivera told local CBS affiliate KWCH.
When she returned to the spot, she found her car gone, with the complex towing it due to it apparently being a no-parking zone.
Rivera also emphasized that, while other similar spots in different parking areas on the complex were labeled no parking, the one she chose to park in was not.
She, like many others in town for a youth soccer tournament, were resultantly left stranded in Wichita for the weekend since the towed cars couldn’t be picked up until Monday.
For Rivera, the situation was particularly disastrous. Left inside her car were her and her children’s belongings, car seats for the kids, and her medication.
In total, she spent over a thousand dollars on getting her car back on Monday, as well as the necessary accommodations for her and her children in the meantime.
Stryker Sports Complex’s response to the situation was simple and straightforward.
“If it’s a proper parking stall, park in it. If it’s not, don’t. That’s when you’re going to get yourself in trouble,” said Larry Inlow, the director of Stryker.
“We don’t want to make anybody go through a hardship. However, if somebody’s mad because their car got towed, but it saves another kid from getting hit, or a car from being hit, so be it,” he elaborated.
Inlow confirmed that Stryker makes no money from towing the cars, with the City of Wichita also emphasizing that the issue is one of safety rather than financial opportunity.
“This is not something we want to do. It is necessary for the safety of our parking lot and the functionality of the parking lot,” Inlow added.
Stryker Sports Complex did not immediately return The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
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
Part of the parking stress at Stryker last weekend stemmed from a high school football game going on at the same time as the soccer tournament.
Inlow added that while they’d love to add more parking, the towing will not stop, and that incoming organizations are sent detailed parking procedures well before arriving at the complex.
PARKING PROBLEMS
While Rivera’s story highlights the horrors of having a car towed, some states like Connecticut and California are restricting general tactics and specific fees in ways which ultimately benefit drivers.
General parking reform is also sweeping cities across the nation, with one of the most notable examples in Santa Monica stemming from the discontinuation of the Clean Air Vehicle Decal program.
Other cities are enacting complete overhauls, updating fines for old laws and adding new ones alike as was the case with a major Florida tourism destination.
A major New Jersey city is taking a different approach by using traffic cameras to automatically send drivers in violation of certain parking rules tickets, giving them no immediate notification likewise.
Cones outlining a no-parking zone at Stryker[/caption]
Red curbs and signs prohibit parking in this area of the complex[/caption]
A towing warning for persons parking illegally at Stryker[/caption]
