AboutRichard Expertise Professional towing and recovery operator for 29 Plus years, dealing with light to heavy duty towing operations... Nationally certified by various agencies - associations..
I know that many people do not understand vehicle towing when ordered by Law Enforcement or from Private Property Parking lots, which I will try to help with. BUT, I am not versed in RV TOWING ISSUES, or actual law cases or proposed cases...
Experience I have 29+ years of towing experience dealing with everything from Light duty ( cars and pickups ) to tractor trailer rigs, motor homes and buses.. Motor clubs to police calls, lockouts to jumpstarts and tows. I have experienced alot of fun times doing my job. Some have been good experiences and some of have been heart wrenching experiences.
Organizations Been affiliated with TRAA(towing and recovery association of america), Oregon Tow Truck Association, Washington Tow Truck Association, Wyoming Tow Truck Association , and Alabama Tow Truck Association
Publications Tow Times Magazine
American Towman
STA Phantom Towing News
Towing and Recovery Phootnotes
Education/Credentials TRAA Heavy duty Trained operator 1987
TRAA Management Classes 1986
Wreckmaster training programs (since 1992)
Several other training programs (to many to list )
Expert: Richard Date: 7/9/2008 Subject: Tow Issues
Question I let a person without a valid license drive a vehicle that was in my name, and shortly after it got towed in Dixon, California. This happened in January of 2008 and had a hold on it for 30 days. The amount of money they requested for me to get the out was far too expensive for the car they had taken ($1,400.00 for a 1981 buick). They told me it would be sold and whatever was leftover I had to pay. I got a call today from a place wanting $1,610.00 saying I had one month from the time of sale to pay the remaining balance, and that I had 12 days left to pay in full. They had an incorrect address (when the towing company had the right one) and wrong work history, but did not give me an explanation of why I wasn't told it was sold or anything. What can I do? Is everything that they are doing right?
Answer Well without knowing all the details on the whole issue, it is really hard to say if they did it all right...
California has several laws regarding notification, and lien processes and several of them deal with the value of the vehicle...
Being as it's a 1981 Buick, I would assume that it is not of "REAL VALUE" (example say $ 500.00)...
Now as I understand it there are lien processes for vehicles of "high value", "normal value" and what they call "abandoned or scrap vehicles" (remember I am in Alabama and not totally up on all the laws in California and the changes that happen often)
If it was valued at say $400.00 by appraisal and the limits, requirements where meet their might not be a notification sent, but as a general rule the DMV records for the last registered owner is what the notification letters are sent to... If you moved, or its not in your name then you will not get the letter as it is sent "certified mail" which the post office does not forward. And it you are not listed then it goes to the last registered owner who might of told the collection agency or who ever contacted you.
But yes, California also has a law where the vehicle owner is responsible for any and all towing and storage fees over and above the price the vehicle was sold for at auction.. If it went for $ 25.00 and the tow and storage was $ 1400... then you are responsible for $ 1375.00....
Below is the link to the California DMV web site and you can read though it as they have all the laws... There are several areas which you should look into, one being the "LIEN PROCESS", and the notification areas in that section... Also the tows ordered by Law enforcement for suspended licenses are there also...
