Turns out the company that's been towing cars at Abbey Court Condominiums may not have a license to operate in Carrboro.
According to Town Manager Steve Stewart, Chandler Towing needs a privilege license to conduct business in the town. The license costs $25 and a note will be sent to the company telling it to get one.
Stewart was responding to a request for information from Mayor Mark Chilton. Town leaders have been trying to intervene at the Jones Ferry Road complex, which began towing cars last week that had conspicuous body damage or whose owners could not provide proof of ownership and other documents. The complex has also banned commercial vehicles from the parking lot.
Chilton also wants to know how many vehicles have been towed. A spokesman for the company that runs the complex told us 12 a couple of days ago. WCHL reported 14 this morning. Residents have said more.
Read more about this issue a few posts below or here.
Comments
This is ridiculous!
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 10:07 — Anonymous (not verified)Doesn't the Mayor have more important things to do than to lead a witch hunt? The towing company is doing the job they were hired to do and the condo complex is trying to follow the rules of the association and to provide a clean and safe environment for its residents. I don't think we would be hearing ANYTHING at all about this if the vehicles belonged to actual US citizens, do you?
your defense of predatory towing is ill-informed
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 12:54 — Anonymous (not verified)The only person that I know who had his car towed is an American citizen (and UNC student).
From another N&O article: "We've never dealt with a policy like that, so I'm going to have to do
some further research to see if the Fair Housing Act itself says
anything about that," Smith said. "My car would get towed."
Absurdly interpreted, practically any vehicle can be disqualified from a permit based on "conspicuous damage". This towing case was due to another dubious interpretation. Additionally, the apartment owner gave specific advice on how to avoid towing (while the tenant parked temporarily in vistor's spaces), and then allowed the car to be towed anyhow.
To me, this seems like a case of predatory towing that has gotten out of hand, and one must qustion how the apartment owner expects to profit from this harrassment.
unlicensed
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 07:21 — JohnPershingI wonder how many unlicensed vehicles are at Abbey Court. City officials seem more intent on harrassing an out of town tow company operator for a $25 privelege license to come to Carrboro to make a legal and honest living than they do about the unlicensed illegal immigrant drivers of improperly registered vehicles.
So True
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 09:59 — Emily (not verified)I am disgusted with our town's Board of Aldermen. I am worried the next time someone goes out there to do their job (as a taxpaying citizen!) they will be seriously hurt by these people that will not stop breaking the law.
Please keep the actions of Carrboro's Mayor and Board of Aldermen in mind when voting in the next election.
Part of a national trend
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 23:47 — Johnny T. Utopia (not verified)Abusive towing practices are part of a national trend. For more information, check out my blog at www.towingutopia.com
If you are mistreated, make some inquires and ask some questions and file a formal complaint. It often turns out to be the case that the towing company in question is not properly licensed. This happens ALL THE TIME.