Stop Predatory Towing, Sign the Petition. Don’t let them victimize you.
About Us
Who We Are
We are a group of frustrated homeowners and residents who live or own property in a HOA or CONDO Association in Prince George’s County Maryland.
Standing Up & Speaking Out!
Mission
Our mission is to stand in solidity to bring change in the current towing laws, codes and practices of this county.
Goal
Our goal is to STAND UP, SPEAK OUT, and END illegal, aggressive, and predatory towing in association communities throughout PG County MD.
Support
We support putting an end predatory, aggressive and illegal towing in association communities throughout PG County.
Belief
We believe our politicians should implement immediately an efficient process for victims to file claims against violators of county towing laws.
In addition, victims of illegal towing should be compensated beyond a refund.
We also believe association education is essential for all homeowners in understanding their rights and laws governing their association.
PG County Petition
This Petition will be sent to:
- The Prince George’s County Council
PG Council Members
Petition to End
Aggressive & Illegal Towing
HOA & CONDO Associations
Prince George’s County Maryland
The citizens of PG County demand that our county legislators act to protect the rights of homeowners living in association communities from predatory towing. Legislation must be passed to sanction companies that now are making a normal social existence impossible in our county.
In 2015 Montgomery County amended and passed new towing laws. These laws stopped predatory towing and now provide association residents greater peace of mind.
The Communities Association Institute 2016 statistics show 342,000 association communities nationwide. As these communities grow, the state legislators needs to address residents’ concerns.
ILLEGAL TOWING
Many homeowner associations are contracting towing companies for the removal of unauthorized vehicles, but these companies are not acting legally.
On October 19, 2017, I was illegally towed from my reserved parking space on the allegation of an expired parking pass. In fact, the temporary parking permit had not expired. It was due to expire at midnight. This was an illegal tow.
In Prince George’s County, towing from private property between the hours of 6:01 am – 8:59 pm requires someone with authorization to be physically present at the time of the tow to sign a PG County approved tow slip. The majority of the time, drivers don’t stop to get signatures. This is illegal.
Using informers/spotters. This is illegal, but happening in PG County everyday.
Towing someone who just parked, this is aggressive towing. Yet it happens all the time.
Parking by Permit
Prince Georges County currently allows association communities to tow vehicles at owners expense if the vehicle is violating a community parking permit rule.
Montgomery County put an end to that kind of towing. A notice of the violation must be placed on the vehicle. This 48 hour notice allow the resident to correct the matter.
This needs to change in PG County, so residents or their guests are not left in hardship, stranded, or in despair.
What We Want
We want our elected officials to provide better protection for the citizens who buy homes and pay taxes in this county. We want them to adopt or amend towing codes/laws that make living in an association community pleasant and natural.
Right now the towing laws benefit the towing companies, not the tax paying home-buying citizens who make this county thrive.
Legislators Must Take Action
We ask the state legislators to act without further delay and to make aggressive and illegal towing a crime.
Petition by,star
Letter
Dear County Council Members
Maryland has more than 6700 association communities. This number grows every year. Association boards have the fiduciary responsibility to maintain property value, implement fair rules and regulations, while adhering to the hierarchy of the law (federal, state, county) as well as their community bylaws and governing documents.
Unfortunately many association boards in Prince George’s County are untrained. Therefore rules and regulations made many years ago, might be discriminatory and even against the law. These rules and regulations can also be severely enforced causing hardship on those struggling to make ends meet.
Many of us enjoy association living, while those in neighboring communities (and even our own) are dealing with unfair policy enforcement.
I live in a community that’s 3.5 miles from the nearest Metro station. Yet we have 24/7 parking surveillance for unauthorized vehicles. There have been more than 80 vehicles towed within a month from my neighborhood. The majority of these tows were parking permit related. Visitors and workers cannot secure a parking permit during the day, because the security guard who patrols the community is never at his booth.
So when people park, he identifies the cars parked without a permit or an expiring one, then calls the towing company to collect said vehicles.
When I purchased my home 17 years ago, I was not aware 8 years later my vehicles would be at risk of towing for an expired temporary parking pass, delinquency with parking rights revoked for homeowners and their guests, or for not displaying a community parking permit.
We are law abiding citizen who pay taxes and association monthly assessments.
On October 19, 2017 at 11:30 pm my car was towed from its reserved parking space for an “Expired Parking Permit” that had not expired. This was an illegal tow.
Many of my neighbors and their guests have been towed. The majority of them don’t even know if they have been towed illegally. The law requires someone with authority to be physically present to sign the tow slips between 6:01 am – 8:59 pm. I have never seen any driver stop after hooking a vehicle to its truck.
Informers cannot be used to identify cars for towing. That’s against the law, yet it is happening.
When I asked the towing company for evidence of my tow, I was told that information was only available if I was taking them to court. This is against the law. PG County towing code states that a photograph shall be available for inspection by any interested party for a period of at least one (1) year. A copy of the photograph shall be provided to the vehicle owner upon request.
In 2015, Montgomery County passed new towing laws to address the needs of their homeowners living in association communities. These laws specifically addressed private property towing in HOA and Condo communities.
Montgomery County doesn’t permit tow truck drivers to monitor commercial parking lots between 9:01 am – 1:59 am for the sole purpose of towing cars. Yet Prince Georges County allows this kind of predatory prowling in residential communities.
The people of Prince George’s County deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect as those living in association communities in Montgomery County. Towing laws that benefits the towing companies should not be embraced in Prince George’s County while in a neighboring county it’s deem illegal.
We need our elected officials to amend or adopt towing codes/laws that will protect the lifestyle, investment, and peace of mind of homeowners living in association communities. We support legal towing (parking in someone else’s reserved parking space, parking in a fire lane, blocking a fire hydrant, etc.).
Being towed for a community parking pass, is a little extreme when a 48 hour warning is more appropriate.
SENATE BILL 401 states that a tow driver:
“17 (9) MAY NOT TOW A VEHICLE SOLELY FOR A VIOLATION OF FAILURE TO DISPLAY A VALID CURRENT REGISTRATION UNDER § 13–411 OF THIS ARTICLE UNTIL 72 HOURS AFTER A NOTICE OF VIOLATION IS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE.” Yet, in Prince George’s County, a resident can be towed (in an association) for not displaying a community parking permit, without ANY warning.
We need change, and we need it now. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and for helping to make Prince George’s County a better place to live.
Sincerely,
SJ Burns, MSS
Citizen Against Aggressive and Illegal Towing in HOA and CONDO Associations
Letter Writing Guidelines
Each petitioner is encouraged to write their own frustrating story and forward it to their district county council or all nine members. Link below:
Prince George’s County Council
If you like your story featured on Stop Towing Our Cars website, send it to us.
Include in your letter:
“In our community, we need our association board and management company to be reasonable, use good judgment and exhibit common sense in decision-making processes, which include proper application of the Prince George’s County Towing Codes.
Simply because an association “may” remove a vehicle does not necessarily mean it “should.” Stranding owners just because an association believes they can doesn’t further its best interests. It also demonstrates ignoring county laws, land owners rights., and the lack of sensitivity for human decency.
Residents are encouraged to file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General’s office. This helps Maryland to understand how towing is really affecting the lives of those living in an association community. If you like, you can also seek additional compensation by filing a civil suit in small claims court.
Resources:
Maryland Homeowner’s Association, Inc. This is a homeowner advocacy group. They help homeowners living in a HOA, CONDO, or COOP.
PG County Towing Codes
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Sec. 26-142.04. – Complaint by property owner; penalty.
(a) Any property owner or property owner’s agent may, when a vehicle is parked without authorization upon his private property without his consent, make a complaint to a licensed towing company in Prince George’s County stating that he requests that said vehicle be removed from his property. Said complaint shall be on a tow slip required by Section 26-142.05 and shall contain a statement made by the property owner or property owner’s agent that the vehicle which they seek to have removed was parked on the property without consent, that all required signage was in place, except in the case of a single family dwelling, and was clearly visible. A property owner or property owner’s agent who knowingly makes a false statement on the form is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both.
(b) The tow truck operator that is to tow any vehicle under the provisions of this section may not sign the required form as an agent of the property owner, except as provided for in Section 26-142.05(c).
(c) It shall be unlawful for a tow truck operator to possess blank forms that have been pre-signed by a property owner or property owner’s agent.
(d) It shall be unlawful for a property owner or property owner’s agent to authorize a tow for an expired tags registration for an operable vehicle if the tags have be expired for less than thirty (30) days, unless there is evidence that the vehicle has been abandoned. (CB-27-1987; CB-40-2009)
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Sec. 26-142.05. – Tow slip.
(a) The towing company shall present to the property owner or property owner’s agent a tow slip, approved by the Director as to form and content, which shall consist of one (1) original and two (2) copies. The towing company and the property owner or the property owner’s agent shall cause said tow slip to be completed by filling in all pertinent data. Before towing or removing the subject vehicle, the towing company shall cause the property owner or property owner’s agent to sign said tow slip in the place provided. The tow truck operator shall keep the signed tow slip with them while towing the vehicle to the approved tow storage facility, at which time it will be placed with the licensee’s daily tow log.
(b) The tow slip shall provide, as a minimum, spaces for filling in pertinent data as make and model of the vehicle, vehicle identification number, date and time of towing, license plate number, location towed from, name of complaining party, specific reason for the towing of the unauthorized vehicle, name and phone number of towing company, the tow company’s license number, and location where vehicle will be stored.
(c) If the property owner has a written contract with the licensed towing company, the property owner or property owner’s agent shall not be required to either sign a complaint or tow slip prior to the towing or removal of an unauthorized vehicle from his property in the following instances:
(1) If the towing occurs during the hours of 9:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M.; or
(2) If the vehicle is directly blocking a clearly marked fire lane, no parking zone, a handicapped parking space or access to the property or a building on the property.
(d) Prior to the towing or removal of an unauthorized vehicle pursuant to this Section, the towing company shall photograph the vehicle in a manner that clearly documents the unauthorized parking of the vehicle. A copy of the photograph shall be kept with the vehicle while being transported and at the location where the vehicle is stored. The photograph shall be available for inspection by any interested party for a period of at least one (1) year. A copy of the photograph shall be provided to the vehicle owner upon request.
(e) A receipt shall be provided upon release of the vehicle. The receipt shall specify the name, address and phone number of the towing company, the make, model and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle, the license plate number, the tow company’s license number, the time at which the vehicle was towed, the location from which the vehicle was towed, the reason for the towing, the location where the vehicle was towed and any other location at which the vehicle was stored. The receipt shall also include information on the legal right of the vehicle owner to request a hearing pursuant to Section 26-142.10 of this Code.
(f) Each towing company shall provide to the property owner a written list of all vehicles towed for which a signed towing slip was not obtained within twenty-four (24) hours of the tow. The list shall specifically identify each vehicle, including make, model, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and license plate number. The property owner shall be responsible for keeping this list for at least ninety (90) days. (CB-27-1987; CB-101-2001; CB-82-2004; CB-41-2005; CB-40-2009)
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Sec. 26-142.06. – Towing of vehicle.
(b) A towing company may not tow a vehicle defined as abandoned pursuant to Section 26-162 of this Code until forty-eight (48) hours after notice of such proposed towing has been securely attached to and conspicuously displayed on the vehicle.
(c) Immediately prior to the attachment of the subject vehicle, the authorized towing company shall notify the County Police, by phone or computer, of the date and time of the towing, the location of the tow, the make and model of the vehicle, the license plate number and the reason for the tow. Within one (1) hour after removing the subject vehicle from the property, the authorized towing company shall verify to the County Police, by phone, fax or computer, the above information and shall provide the vehicle identification number of the vehicle. The Director is authorized, pursuant to this section, to issue regulations to implement this provision.
(d) A towing company that undertakes the towing or removal of a vehicle from private property may not employ individuals, commonly referred to as “spotters”, whose primary task is to report the presence of unauthorized parked vehicles for the purposes of towing or removal.
(e) A towing company shall not pay or offer to pay a property owner or a property owner’s agent, and a property owner or his agent shall not solicit or accept payment or services of any kind for authorizing the towing of a vehicle from any private property.
(f) A person who violates this Section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both. (CB-27-1987; CB-41-2005; CB-35-2007; CB-40-2009)
Reference: DIVISION 10. – TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY.
2006 HOA & CONDO Towing Laws
TOWING LAWS TOUGHENED
in
Homeowner and Condominium Associations
Prince George’s County Maryland
LETTER OF LAW
October 6, 2006
Responding to complaints from consumers about “predatory towing”, the Prince George’s County Council has made it more challenging for automobiles to be towed, even from private property such as condominiums and homeowners associations.
By a vote of 8-1, the County Council passed “County Bill 41-2005″ (“CB-41-2005″), proposed by Councilwoman Camille A. Exum (D-Dist 7) of Capital Hill, that requires towing companies to carry more insurance, prohibits towing companies from storing vehicles more than fifteen (15) miles from where it was towed or outside Prince George’s County without the owner’s or operator’s consent. The new law was signed on November 22, 2005. Some specific changes include:
- Before towing a car from private property, the towing company would have to present a “tow slip” approved by the County Police Chief, to the property owner or property owner’s agent. The property owner then must sign the slip before it can be affixed to the vehicle. In the case of a condominium or homeowners association, this means that someone from the Board or the management agent would need to be physically present in order to authorize the tow.
- Tow companies would be required to have at least $5,000 insurance per vehicle covering damage during tows and at least $100,000 in liability insurance per person.
- Need tow slip if vehicle is towed during the hours of 4:00 PM and midnight;
- Limits the cost of a tow not to exceed $100.00 for any vehicle up to 10,000 pounds;
- Allows payment by credit or debit cards when picking up a towed vehicle
- Vehicles cannot be “booted”
From the site of: ELMORE & THROOP, P.C. by Kathleen M. Elmore, Managing Partner
Note To Citizens Against Aggressive and Illegal Predatory Towing:
Despite these new laws from 2006 and the latest wording of them, today in 2017 predatory towing continues throughout Prince George’s County in association communities.
Montgomery County
In 2015; Montgomery County made both parties (the association and the contracted towing company) liable in cases of illegal towing including damages. This is one way to quell this kind of criminal behavior.
STOC Suggested Compensation for Illegal Tows in PG County Maryland
Each party needs to take responsibility for an illegal tow. Current law states: “A person who violates this Section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both.”
Since illegal towing continues in this county; more needs to be done to combat this kind of criminal activity.
Meanwhile, the victim is left helpless. A complimentary refund of the towing fee does not admit guilt, nor does it show remorse for stealing property, inconveniencing a resident, attaching a lien on said property for cost of the tow and storage. A settlement of $1500 would be fair compensation, in lieu of a refund.
Blog
HOA Training PG County MD Bi-County Association Training
CONDO – COOP – HOA Homeowners
Every association community needs efficient management and fair rules. This creates a neighoborhood of harmony. Prince George’s County has partnered with Montgomery County to bring Bi-County association training here in PG.
The training is designed to address the roles, ethics and responsibilities of board members and homeowners. Governing community documents (federal, state, county, bylaws, etc), financial management, meeting rules, and general administration, is covered in depth.
If you want association board training or want to understand how your Homeowners Association (HOA), Condominium (CONDO), or COOP association should be ran, this class is for you. All homeowners living in an association community are welcome to attend. Seating is limited.
The training takes place 4 times/year, in Upper Marlboro Maryland. Dates and times are listed below. Location: TBD and RSVP is required.
Contact Del. Darryl Barnes office for more details. Disclaimer: Del. Barnes office is not associated with stoptowingourcars.com. This information is being provided here as a courtesy and in support of making PG County a better place to call home.
2019 Board Certification Training Schedule
January 26, 2019, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; 15511 BeechTree Pkwy, Upper Marlboro, MD (Clubhouse): Only 30 seats available: This event was completely booked.
February 23, 2019, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; 15511 BeechTree Pkwy, Upper Marlboro, MD (Clubhouse): Only 30 seats available: This event was completely booked
CANCELLED
Cancelled: March 30, 2019, 8:00 am – 5:00
April 1 – 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm.
The Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership
If you would like to attend this training, please RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ccoc-board-of-director-training-tickets-55513319834.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. MLK
Tags: condo board training • hoa board training • Montgomery County md • prince Georges county mdPredatory Towing Trend Fight Back
Lehi, Utah – Police Chief Darren Paul and prosecuting attorney warned city officials of a trend in predatory towing.
“They will come through the area and tow for whatever violations they see,” Police Chief Darrin Paul said. “It ends up being a moneymaker for the towing company with no recourse for the people who have their cars towed.”
“There are tow companies that move into Lehi for business and contract with local homeowners’ associations. According to Paul, the steady growth in the city only guarantees predatory towing, or “at-will” towing, will get worse.”
“We’re trying to head it off before it becomes too big of a problem,” Paul said.
“We’ll make it so they can’t be in cahoots with an HOA because that is what is going on,” Paul said………..”We want to give some rights back to the homeowner.”
Repost from an article on the Daily Herald: DH News
Author: Cathy Allred
This tread is nationwide and affecting everyone.
Confession of a Property Manager Fight Back
Many of us have called a towing company to help us in our time of need. Those guys, we appreciate.
It’s the unscrupulous, law breaking, tow truck operators, their boss, and association boards that contract them; we don’t endorse.
Here’s a confession from a property manager in Lewisville, TX.
#3 Nov 3, 2008
JKL – “I am a Regional Manager with a large property management company………… We recently went to permit parking at one of the communities I supervise and Pro Tow did not want to enforce what is sometimes called at will towing. What this means is that the towing company would patrol the community and tow any cars with out parking permits. Pro Tow simply stated that they did not like to enforce this type of towing. I had to respect their decision. I dont like to have our towing companies enforce this type of towing as well. We just have so many parking issues at this community, we did not know what else to do in order to assure that the paying residents had a place to park. We ended up resolving this matter in another mannor.
Dont get me wrong, there are way to many shady towing companies. I have had problems with several towing companies over the years. …….”
Repost from Topix
Towing At Will – Big Bucks in PG County Fight Back
Nothing destroys a good party faster than the towing of cars. Around 10:30 pm on Saturday, guests cars were hauled out, one at a time, from a homeowners association in Prince George’s County. The party was not loud and the cars were not illegally parked. No parking permit – $175/tow.
Residents in this association allege – towing starts at 12 midnight.
Unfortunately, at will towing, begins at the tower’s discretion. He can come anytime and make as many passes as he likes. This kind of power has unlimited financial gain for the towing company – nothing but lost for the homeowners.
No Warning – Just Snatch and Go Fight Back
When Mrs. S. Jones and her husband moved in an association community in Prince George’s County, instead of receiving a welcome letter, both their cars were towed from their reserved parking spaces. All this happened while they slept soundly in their new home.
They had no idea that parking by permit was the only way to avoid paying $350 for their towed vehicles. They had no warning and no recourse.
Mrs. Jones and her husband were not the only ones towed that night from the same community. I think tow drivers call this “burning a community.”
On another occasion earlier this year, Mr. Jones parked in his reserved spot. After closing his car door, his parking permit fell to the floor. Unbeknownst to him, he went on to enjoyed his evening. Came out the next day only to find his property missing.
Living in an association community has been nothing but lessons learned for this family. A visitor was towed for temporarily double parking in front their reserve parking spaces to assist a DISABLED visitor into their home. In less than 7 minutes that visitor’s car was towed.
This kind of towing does not belong in a homeowners community. It’s aggressive and illegal.
Damage Due to Aggressive Towing Fight Back
Mr. J. Alvarez, had a friend visit. His friend bought along his elderly mother. While partially parked in Alvarez’s driveway, his friend walked his aging mother into the house. In less than 5 minutes, the car was towed. His friend’s mother’s purse and medication was inside. Alvarez quickly drove them to the tow lot. It was closed, but an attendant was on site. They beg him to let them retrieve the medication and come back in the morning for the car. The attendant was unsympathetic. Alvarez’s friend, never visited again.
Enough is Enough Fight Back
Mrs. T. Cox lived in an association community for 17 years. Over time, she got fed-up with the 24/7 towing and decided enough was enough. “They have made this neighborhood no longer feel like a nice place to call home.”
She sold her house within 2 weeks of posting her frustration on a community website.
Illegally Towed – Thief by Contract Fight Back
Rev. Burns, has lived in a homeowners association community for more than 16 years, and parks her car in the same reserved parking space associated with her lot. On October 16, 2017, she took her car in for repair. Coming home, she reminded herself to stop at the guard’s house to retrieve a temporary parking permit.
When she arrived, there was no guard. Feeling anxious, she knocked on a few doors to borrow a parking pass. The next day the guard was on the premises, so she secured a 2 day parking permit. The pass was scheduled to expire on October 19, 2017 at midnight.
Her loaner car was tow exactly at 11:30 pm on October 19, 2017. She was awaken at 5 am by her husband informing her of the missing car. Immediately she called 911. They asked for the license plate, make, and vin number. She had nothing.
She alleged that homeowners in her community have been dealing with aggressive and illegal predatory towing practice since 2009. For some reason, she said; this year has been the worse.
Voices from the Neighborhood Fight Back
Mr. N. Jamison, says, towing is hurting the residents pockets and social life because people don’t invite anyone over ……… We all work hard every day to keep a nice house and live our life. We don’t need to be dealing with this after long days and hours at work.
Mr. T. Porter, said that 24/7 towing is embarrassing, a racket, and a waste of time for him to drive to some crummy lot at night to take a friend to pay $175 to get their car back. A man who loves entertaining, has suddenly stopped.
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DISCLAIMER
This web site was created by Stop Towing Our Cars as a public service. While the information on this site may deal with legal issues, we do not provide legal assistance or advice. If you need such advice or assistance, you should consult an attorney.
We assume no liability for the use of the information provided on this site; and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. The information is general in nature and found online. This site is not intended as legal guidance, but rather as resourceful information to help you understand the purpose of our cause.
Stop Towing Our Cars do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the content on this site or on any site to which it is linked. Users are encouraged to do their own research and join the fight to stop “at will” “predatory” towing in Prince George’s County Maryland.