TOWING SCAM IN WASHINGTON, DC
 

TOWING SCAM WARNING!!!!

All Visitors Planning To Visit Washington, DC.

This is no joke! If you are visiting Washington, DC, from out of state, do not park your car in Washington, DC, even if it is a legal parking. Your car will get towed illegally with some invalid reason!

Our story: Planning on having a funfilled weekend in DC, turned out to be one of our most dissipointed visites to any state we have visited. Not even to mention the frustration and stress that went with it.

On the 9th we checked into our hotel and had dinner at the Source on Pennsalvaynia Ave. it was a lot of fun, but it was a hunt to find change for a coin meter, which we had to charge to our dinner bill to pay the meter. You would think that if something like that were in place, they would have a change machine around. We had a very pleasant dinner and went home.

The next day we wanted to see some of the museums in the area. we found parking on 7th street next to the Federal Building. There were no signs for VENDORS or any other restrictions. We parked, put our money in the meter and luckily I took some pictures of the meter before I left to download the pay by phone App. (So, all my pictures are time stamped). We left our car at 11:25 that morning. I turned around (left my car for 10 minutes) because you need your license plate number for the App. When I got to where my car was parked, it was gone. TOWED!!! by Able’s Towing, 1859 Edwin Street NE, Washington, DC 20018. With still $1.33 on the meter. If it weren’t for the bus driver who was parked in my spot, I would have thought that it was stolen. He explained that; as soon as we turned the corner of the Federal Building, a ticket officer came, took a picture and a tow truck hooking up our car. According to the bus driver, it didn’t even take them 30 seconds. At this time, I have no ticket what so ever.

I went back to the museum and asked for information. After calling the Government Of The District Of Colombia, Department Of Public Works, I was transferred to someone else. After explaining my case, I was told that nothing could be done. We finally found out where our car was towed to illegally and what a crap hole. Nothing but a junkyard and a trailer. I had to present my licenses to claim my car and dish out $120 on top of the $25 for the taxi ride.
The scaly person at the gate immediately called his boss, when he realized we called the cops, and what a waist of time that was! It is a civil matter they say, and that they have no jurisdiction in this matter.

We paid the $120 and then received the ticket, (They only take cash and offer no receipt) walked to our car and noticed that all the cars in the lot had out of state plates. As we are leaving Washington, we started comparing times with pictures. We noticed that the ticket was time stamped at 11:15, (officer J, Jones bag # 0016) while we were still at our car. No one came up to us to let us know of our violation. Which on the ticket it states that it was a Vendor Stand area. We left early on Saturday morning, since we are so thrilled with the hospitality, which Washington DC., shows their guests. When we got home, we paid the remaining $20 for the original ticket. Hoping we can put this illegal and unfair experience behind us. We received a letter from the Government Of The District Of Columbia Department of Public Works.

This letter would like to inform me that I have an ORANGE, DODGE, 2013, vehicle in the same lot as my real car. Bull!!! I do not own a car or truck like this!!! Once a gain, the car plates are from “PA”. Another car from out of state. This is ridicule!!! They target people form out of state, because they know that we will not sue them. Why? Because we live to far, and it will cost us too much for the court fees, travel and lawyer fees. In this case very one just rights it off, pay for their tickets and move on.

This is illegal and Washington is hurting itself!! Me, my family or friends will never visit Washington again, since it is so corrupt! I will also tell every person I get in contact with and spread the news of illegal towing in Washington DC. There is nothing more that states that this is a scam then the Company that only takes Cash and do not give a Receipt!!!

Wait, so what? You parked in a bus spot? Did that meter even belong to the spot you were parked in?

(Not that I really think you will respond, but your story is just so weird)

Any experienced traveler will tell you that $hit happens when you are trying to find legal parking in an unfamiliar city. Maybe you made a mistake; maybe the towing company jumped the gun; maybe the truth includes a little of both.

Typing these incoherent screeds online is just wasting more of your time. Most people won't even read the whole thing.

Btw, DC is notorious for confusing parking signage. As a longtime resident, I got the hang of it, but it was never easy, and for visitors it's really tricky. The one useful lesson here is, avoid driving and parking yourself in the city and you'll be much happier in the end.

I quote: "Waist of time."

Parking is large cities is very often difficult, expensive and confusing. Much better to leave the car at home - or parked in the hotel garage - and just use public transit.

NYC has alternate side of the street cleaning signs that can be very confusing (parking not allowed between 2 specific hours for several days a week in the middle of the day. I have seen out of state cars whose driver did not understand park there (also in midtown where time on meters is very strictly enforced - I mean you can park for one hour - no longer - no matter how much money you put in the machine). Once the car is towed you will owe a ticket, a towing fee and an impound fee - and have to pay in excess of $1000 to get your car back (our parking tickets range from $100 to $250). Also there can be large finds for "standing" in many places in midtown - have seen drivers get tickets for refusing to move immediately when told to do so. Also if there are grid lines on the street you can get a ticket for stopping (getting stuck) in the intersection.

Parking in large cities is just not a good idea for non-locals.

Years ago, I too tried to find parking to also visit the museums in DC but gave up. I thought it would be easy but wasn't so I returned the car to the hotel and went by subway/metro to see the sights. It was so much easier as I felt every uneasy with the parking situation. I'm glad I learned very quickly to do that but maybe the OP didn't have the choice I had. All I can say is the OP will know for the next if there is a next time. I am sure new travelers to DC might not know or think about it either and maybe they will find this post helpful.

I quote "once a gain"

All the guidebooks I have read for DC and NYC have stressed that visitors should not attempt to drive but use public transport. I suppose actually reading books is going out of fashion.

If this was last week, it was peak cherry blossom time and there was even a parade on Saturday. Like most cities, legal parking is almost impossible to find in tourist areas, and DC is often worse for security reasons. My rule of thumb is that if I am in a city and see a bunch of open parking spaces, I probably should not park there, since someone knows something I don't.

FYI - DC is not a State, and most of the cars you will see on the street have other-than-DC plates anyway. People who live in DC already know about parking troubles, so they don't get towed.

I can follow about 50% of your story - and you are clearly upset. I suggest that if one difficult experience in a travel destination makes you refuse to ever return, you reconsider any future travel plans.

"This is no joke! If you are visiting Washington, DC, from out of state, do not park your car in Washington, DC, even if it is a legal parking. Your car will get towed illegally with some invalid reason!"

Wow, that's quite a warning. All cars from out of state which are legally parked in Washington, DC will be towed!

I'm still trying to figure you your story. Where was it parked fully legally with money in the appropriate meter? It seems you're saying you parked it and walked away to go get the app to pay for the parking, but before you paid for the parking it was towed? And this is a surprise because. . . ? The tow truck driver looking for cars parked without time on their meters are supposed to know that the owner was simply off somewhere getting the app to pay for the parking? And they should wait how long before towing it away?

I'm also curious why you had to leave the car to go somewhere else and download the app? You couldn't do that right there? What am I missing here?

You're missing that the OP paid with coins and had 1:33 left on the meter. I assume he was going to download the app to make parking easier from then on.

so they parked, put money in the meter, then went to download the app somewhere else, and returned to the car 10 minutes later with money already in the meter?

I still have to ask. If you were going to then use the app to pay parking additional parking on THAT meter, why did you go somewhere else to download the app when you were returning to the car in 10 minutes anyway? Or if you were downloading the app to use later, why did you return to the car in 10 minutes? If you were only parking for 10 minutes, why did you put over $1.33 in the meter? If you were going to immediately add money to the meter using the app, why wouldn't you just stay with your car while you downloaded the app and then use it? No one is going to tow your car away if you're standing right next to it downloading an app to pay the parking?

Sorry, something still doesn't make much sense here.

gail, <My rule of thumb is that if I am in a city and see a bunch of open parking spaces, I probably should not park there, since someone knows something I don't. >
This cracks me up because it's so true!

true. Personally, I think it's obnoxious for tourists to think they should be parking in the middle of a huge city and clogging up the streets, etc. Why would one think Washington DC central museums would have tons of on-street parking? This is a huge city with lots of business. Tourists shouldn't be driving cars around at all, period, IMO, except to leave.

I find it laughable that one things cities should have convenient change machines around on the streets for people to use for parking. I have never seen such a thing. Also, someone who doesn't even know their own license plate number isn't very sympathetic.

The money on the meter was apparently irrelevant as the OP parking in a no-parking area for vendors only. I suspect there was a sign, just not noticed. I live here and I even made a mistake once because the sign said something like "unlimited parking after 8 pm". And I foolishly thought that meant free. No, it meant you could buy as much as you wanted, but it wasn't free. My ticket was only $35 though.

So, stuff happens about parking in big cities as someone said. It can be a pain when your car gets towed which is why I do agree with the original message -- don't go to DC as a tourist and drive your car around and park on the streets. Of course you could have parked in a garage, but people are too cheap to do that (there is one right across from the Source that isn't that expensive, actually).

<<This is illegal and Washington is hurting itself!! Me, my family or friends will never visit Washington again, since it is so corrupt! >>

bye bye, one more tourist's car not clogging up the streets, good.

"Tourists shouldn't be driving cars around at all, period, IMO, except to leave."

"Personally, I think it's obnoxious for tourists to think they should be parking in the middle of a huge city and clogging up the streets, etc."

Christina, thanks for reminding me why you are such a valuable and kind poster regarding tourism. I'm sure when YOU travel, if you ever actually do, that everyone screams at you to go home and stop clogging their city.

I don't necessarily agree with the fact that tourists should not drive- I've travelled enough with older relatives who have limited mobility to know that sometimes it's just best to have a car. There is always parking somewhere- just not always inexpensive parking. I agree about the garages, though, I rarely street park for most the reasons people have mentioned!

I'd agree with that too, margelousmouse, but suggesting that tourists simply "clog up a city" if for some reason they must and do drive is just plain insulting. What would Washington DC do if it had NO tourists "clogging up the city" by the way?

Of course tourists drive and park in DC and other big cities -- absurd to say they shouldn't.
I am not completely clear on what happened to the OP, but as mentioned DC signs are notorious for being unclear. I got a ticket similar to Christina's also parking in the city and I have lived in DC for my entire life. You read the signs and something reread them and then scratch your head about the meaning of them. I am sorry that a tourist or anyone gets caught in the web of unclear parking signs of DC.

Lol. Yeah, but there's no reasoning with tourist haters, NeoPatrick, so I didn't feel like addressing the phrasing.

Also, what I find hilarious is the assumption that the traffic is solely due to tourists. Friends and family who live in the city are usually the first to say "hey, let's drive downtown for dinner". They live less than a mile away;) Of course I'm guilty too- I'm not riding the bus to the grocery store if it takes twice as long and involves standing in a downpour.

<i>bye bye, one more tourist's car not clogging up the streets, good.</i>

More room then for one of the DC area's bitterest lemons.

<i>I am sorry that a tourist or anyone gets caught in the web of unclear parking signs of DC.</i>

Amen to that. It's a byzantine web. And the over zealous parking enforcement officers have been known to make the occasional mistake or more.

"Tourists shouldn't be driving around at all, period".

Neither should airhead ESPN reporters.

There are plenty of lots where you can pay to park your car for a modest sum. And there's public transit.

The sad fact is that clueless tourists parking illegally throughout DC outstrip the ability of the DC government to enforce the traffic laws, creating massive backups that waste everyone's time.

Blaming tourists for creating "massive backups" is jut plain silly. Plenty of residents of the DMV area park in the city and then there are the delivery trucks that park everywhere. It's curious that on a travel board there are people making disparging comments about tourists. Arent we all tourists at some point, thus the reason we come to Fodors?

<i>
I find it laughable that one things cities should have convenient change machines around on the streets for people to use for parking.</i>

Cities try to make payment convenient. Meters and centralized payment boxes frequently accept credit and debit cards.

Does DC have a parking app, such as ParkMobile, available? I find that method very convenient.

yes, it does http://ddot.dc.gov/page/pay-phone-parking

Great, thanks, yestravel! That bit of info deserves its own thread, actually. Granted, not many visitors to DC drive themselves--we go every year and never drive--but still.

Has anyone else noticed these two things about the OP?

1. It's a first-time post.

2. He/she has not commented since the original posting.

Further comment would be superfluous!



2.

Op, I am sorry that you had an unpleasant experience. That it may be partly or entirely your fault does not lessen the downer that is an unexpected unpleasant surprise while on vacation.

"We paid the $120 and then received the ticket, (They only take cash and offer no receipt) "

If I've understood you correctly, I can understand your consternation about this part. There should be some receipt indicating that the ticket has actually been paid (if only by the towing company.)And I agree that cash only terms are unreasonable for charges in the order of $120.

Meanwhile, if the ticket was actually an official ticket issued by a parking control officer ( I don't know how it works in DC, but I assume the outfit that actually issues the parking is affiliated with the police in some way) then the ticket could be challenged in court. However this will likely prove more expensive for tourists than simply sucking up the fine and letting the matter go, so I agree that tourists are somewhat more vulnerable to any potential mistakes than residents.

Having just returned from DC I can vouch that taxis are an viable option for those who can't for whatever reason use public transit or walk. They are not as expensive as I thought they would be for the convenience. I certainly would never attempt to park in that town near any of the major attractions - the likelihood that metred parking is available that will suffice for the length of a museum visit is miniscule, given the tiny supply relative to demand.

Wait a minute - as I have no experience with being towed, I may have misunderstood. Perhaps the $120 was only for the tow and you are still expected to remit money for the ticket to whichever agency (police, whatever) that handles such things.

In general in the DC area, the tow charge must be paid in cash to the tow company & is separate from any ticket issued. The various jurisdictions contract with towing companies and yes, the towing charge is not inexpensive. As a life long DC resident, it is possible to park downtown, but you must be careful to heed the confusing signs as mentioned above and feed the meter and move by any indicated time. The meter maids and towing companies are very vigilant.

I agree with HowardR that this was a one and done poster who just wanted to b!tch about his bad parking experience.

However, that said, $120 is getting off lightly for a tow in DC. I don't have huge experience having my car towed, but the few times I have (DC and elsewhere), it's been cash only.

<i>The meter maids and towing companies are very vigilant.</i>

The parking on the street outside our condo is cleared for morning rush. No meter maid, but a pretty burly guy on a segway and a tow truck are there at 6:45 am M-F. Parking Enforcement guy is writing the tickets and the party commences promptly at 7. $50 cash fee to drop the tow in progress. I do have experience with that.

I've learned to park in parking structures when in a city of any size--even here in Atlanta when I'm downtown during business hours. Costs more, but the peace of mind is precious. The best feature of parking structures is the freedom to take your time and not have to run back to the car every couple of hours to feed the meter.

To answer all your questions: Yes we paid our meter... we are not idiots. And yes! if a tourist town, city or any area have only coins meter, it will be sensible to have coin machines. No, it was not a BUS parking area, no signs for busses or vendors. When a cop admit and a taxi driver that this is going on without even suggesting it, then it is a shame. But as we were told... "it is a civil matter and nothing can be done". And yes, it is a B*th rampage and also a way of letting other tourists know what to expect. In all reality, Washington D.C loses tons of money for as long as this goes on. We were planning on spending a couple thousand and stay awhile, but if this is how out of State tourists are treated... you can fund your Washington D.C yourself.

Don't go to Providence RI and think you'll get any sympathy if you park overnight, regardless of the lack of signage.

<In all reality, Washington D.C loses tons of money for as long as this goes on.>

Not so, however much you may wish it were. The vast majority of DC tourists don't drive themselves. And no one, in the history of ever, ever said "Gosh, I'd like to visit DC, but I might get a parking ticket, so forget it."

<But as we were told... "it is a civil matter and nothing can be done".>
There is something to be done: you could go to traffic court and dispute the ticket--with evidence, mind you. I did this once and won. I know it's inconvenient for you to return to the city to do this, but inconvenient is not the same as impossible. And DC is hardly alone in requiring disputes to be in person.

You chose the convenient route of simply paying--most do. Now you're mad. Get over it, is my advice, again.

It's good to know how little things change . . 40 years ago when I first visited DC, we stayed at a KOA out by Quantico that held a introductory meeting in the evenings. The Gunny who ran the meetings warned everyone about the confusing and sometimes contradictory signage and the "efficiency" of the tow trucks and warned against parking unless using the parking garages

"you can fund your Washington D.C yourself." Unfortunately, we the taxpayers of the US are funding D.C. in ever increasing amounts.

<In all reality, Washington D.C loses tons of money for as long as this goes on.>

Really? Just how much were you going to spend? In any case, many, many tourists are sensible enough to read the guidebooks and take public transport.

DC is a government town as much as if not more than it is a tourist town, I don't think your absence will be noticed.