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Old 12-08-2018, 10:54 AM   #1
3LOU5
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Towing scenario

Say you unknowingly park in a restricted parking lot. You go out for a few hours and when you got back, your car is gone.

You call the towing company and find out that your car has been impounded. When you go to the impound lot, pay the fine and try to drive away, your vehicle either won't go into gear, or it makes a gawdawful noise as you attempt to drive away.

Surveillance footage at the site where you illegally parked shows that the tow truck driver just slapped on his tow bar and drove away, WITHOUT attempting to get in the car and putting the transmission in neutral.

Who's responsible for the damages ??

(Note: This didn't happen to me. I watched a few YouTube vids that shows how careless and sloppy some of these tow truck drivers are).
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Old 12-08-2018, 10:12 PM   #2
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A quick google search returns a lot of webpages that contain opinions, anecdotes, and references to relevant state ordinances, claiming that towing companies have to take reasonable care not to damage the vehicle. Which sounds a lot like a person might have some recourse depending upon which state they live in, and whether they can prove that the towing company caused the damage.

I'd talk to my auto insurance company first. They've probably already seen this movie countless times.
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Old 12-09-2018, 09:34 AM   #3
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Ugh, a scenario to be avoided... Sometimes, if I feel truly sketch about a parking location, I'll leave it in N and pull the handbrake. I do this will all my manual cars. I guess I could N+Brake in the Macan PDK, but not sure if it will let me leave while car is not in P.

When I park the PDK, I put on the handbrake before switching out from D to P. I think the manual recommends it. I never leave it in just P with no brake.
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Old 12-11-2018, 09:22 PM   #4
3LOU5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ff View Post
A quick google search returns a lot of webpages that contain opinions, anecdotes, and references to relevant state ordinances, claiming that towing companies have to take reasonable care not to damage the vehicle. Which sounds a lot like a person might have some recourse depending upon which state they live in, and whether they can prove that the towing company caused the damage.

I'd talk to my auto insurance company first. They've probably already seen this movie countless times.
That's what I figured. Those drivers know how to jimmy a lock in seconds, and I don't see why they can't put it in the right gear prior to towing.
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2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited - hers
2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Pearl White) - hers (SOLD 02/29/20)
2011 Tao Tao 50 - whoevers bike is in the shop
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Old 12-11-2018, 09:24 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by equ View Post
Ugh, a scenario to be avoided... Sometimes, if I feel truly sketch about a parking location, I'll leave it in N and pull the handbrake. I do this will all my manual cars. I guess I could N+Brake in the Macan PDK, but not sure if it will let me leave while car is not in P.

When I park the PDK, I put on the handbrake before switching out from D to P. I think the manual recommends it. I never leave it in just P with no brake.
*If* I had a Porsche, I don't think it would spend a minute in town, LOL.

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1994 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Sportside Z71 - whoevers vehicle is in the shop
2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Vivid Black) - his
2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited - hers
2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Pearl White) - hers (SOLD 02/29/20)
2011 Tao Tao 50 - whoevers bike is in the shop
2007 Reinell 186 FNS - the dog's
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Old 12-11-2018, 09:54 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3LOU5 View Post
That's what I figured. Those drivers know how to jimmy a lock in seconds, and I don't see why they can't put it in the right gear prior to towing.
Well, at least around here, I wouldn't expect them to get it right even if they were towing you for other reasons. Towing for illegal parking and they are going to give a crap? I'd be surprised if they didn't tow as quick as possible with little regard to mechanicals.
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Old 12-11-2018, 11:46 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by equ View Post
Well, at least around here, I wouldn't expect them to get it right even if they were towing you for other reasons. Towing for illegal parking and they are going to give a crap? I'd be surprised if they didn't tow as quick as possible with little regard to mechanicals.
The YouTube vid I saw had this tow truck driver tow 6 vehicles in rapid succession. At $150 a pop, that driver racked up $900 in minutes. When time is money and money is time, those drivers can pretty much afford to be careless and sloppy.

And in the vids, that's what they were. Pretty scary....
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1994 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Sportside Z71 - whoevers vehicle is in the shop
2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Vivid Black) - his
2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited - hers
2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Pearl White) - hers (SOLD 02/29/20)
2011 Tao Tao 50 - whoevers bike is in the shop
2007 Reinell 186 FNS - the dog's
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