A NEW law is set to ban larger vehicles from parking on busy residential streets or face towing, as well as a “72-hour rule”.
Officials say they were responding to residents’ concerns about nuisance parking, but some drivers claim it will ruin their living arrangements.
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The Fremont City Council voted unanimously to limit parking for 72 hours and ban parking RV’s in residential areas.
According to the ordinance, any vehicle that has been parked in the same location for 72 hours must be moved at least 1,000 feet away.
Fremont City Councilmember Raj Salwan said the proposal is a bid to try to address the issue of overnight parking.
“One, we have to enforce this and that’s going to take some time to scale up so we do want to have resources for these individuals whether that’s through a nonprofits, permanent affordable housing, shelters, all of the above and so I’m ready to move this forward,” Salwan said.
However, the new rule causes trouble for some families as it threatens to alter their living arrangements.
Mum Senae Lopez, who lives inside with her three teenagers, told ABC7News: “Oh, it’s a hard time for them, most of all, you know, because they need their own space.
“Mostly for my girl because she’s the only one and the oldest, so it’s kind of hard,” Lopez said.
She added: “It’s the same thing. Like they pay taxes, I pay taxes…I work. So I don’t know.
“They can say, ‘Oh they don’t pay rent’- exactly that’s true, but expensive you know. My job is not here for clothing, food, gas, or gas. (it’s) in San Jose.”
The mum claims her family has parked their RV along Irvington Park for some six months.
However, Sheila Mani, a local resident who lives in a home just feet away, said they’ve been here a lot longer.
“A year and a half,” Mani said.
Mani along with residents tried to get city leaders to take some kind of action.
She said: “It’s gotten to a point that the indifference has not only been frustrating, we’ve reached a point of no hope.”
What to do if your car is towed
Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.
Steps to take when your car is towed:
- Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted “No Parking” sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.
If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:
- Be prompt – many states have a small window of time where it’s acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.
- Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.
- Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm
