Police towed my Jimmy
Thread Starter
|
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,345
Police towed my Jimmy
Background: The gas gauge is/was erratic once it got close to 1/4 tank. It would go from E to past halfway point and you would not know what was really in the tank.
I was out of town for buiseness trip so I could not help.
My wife was driving the 2000 Jimmy and I am on travel. The vehical dies on a busy street just past a stop light. Her cell phone battery would no longer hold a charge so she put the flashers on, walked to a gas station and called AAA for service. Walked backed to the car and the local police was on the scene and he called for a police tow claiming that she abandoned the car. He would not listen to my wife at all, did not care that AAA was on the way, did not offer to push it out of the way, would not cancel the police tow and did not care how she was going to get home. The car got towed and the tow truck driver offered her a ride and my wife thought he would drop her and the car off at the gas station so she asked for a ride to the station. The driver told her that he was required to tow the car to the impound lot. Luckily there was an good samaritin that saw my wife crying and upset and offered her a ride home. Next day my wife drove to the police impound lot, paid the tow/impound fee and had AAA tow the car to a local chevy dealer and had the dealer replace the fuel gauge sending unit.
I was out of town for buiseness trip so I could not help.
My wife was driving the 2000 Jimmy and I am on travel. The vehical dies on a busy street just past a stop light. Her cell phone battery would no longer hold a charge so she put the flashers on, walked to a gas station and called AAA for service. Walked backed to the car and the local police was on the scene and he called for a police tow claiming that she abandoned the car. He would not listen to my wife at all, did not care that AAA was on the way, did not offer to push it out of the way, would not cancel the police tow and did not care how she was going to get home. The car got towed and the tow truck driver offered her a ride and my wife thought he would drop her and the car off at the gas station so she asked for a ride to the station. The driver told her that he was required to tow the car to the impound lot. Luckily there was an good samaritin that saw my wife crying and upset and offered her a ride home. Next day my wife drove to the police impound lot, paid the tow/impound fee and had AAA tow the car to a local chevy dealer and had the dealer replace the fuel gauge sending unit.
That sucks, but you ALWAYS stay with the vehicle especially if it is in a busy intersection. Even if you don't stay in the vehicle, you have to stay close.. If you don't have a phone or it doesn't work, the police can always call for a AAA tow and typically they'll get faster service than you calling them directly.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 371
From: indiana
up here in indy they where having tow trucks tow cars that werent parked illegal seems the wrecker service had some buddies on the police department helping them rake in the cash it was all over the news like 50 cars got towed from a colts game last year
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 647
From: West-Central MA
Gotta love today's politics. The tow company & the city are all in on the big money train at our expense. What a joke. Sorry to hear about this pal. I'd have probably lost it & ended up in jail after that ... 
BF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,871
From: In the Colorado mountains
Before everyone gets the panties in a bunch...
we REALLY need to know where your wife pulled over. As has been mentioned, if she was blocking traffic, reguardless of putting the flashers on, the cop was right to have the vehcile towed. It was a traffic hazzard and there was no one around in the immediate area when he called it in.
That being said, the are more than a few tow companies that have contracts with the local PD's. Once they are called it is next to impossible to cancel them due to the contract. It doesn't matter what one says or does, once that call is made you are out of some bucks.
Not picking sides here but just stating how things, for the most part, work.
we REALLY need to know where your wife pulled over. As has been mentioned, if she was blocking traffic, reguardless of putting the flashers on, the cop was right to have the vehcile towed. It was a traffic hazzard and there was no one around in the immediate area when he called it in.
That being said, the are more than a few tow companies that have contracts with the local PD's. Once they are called it is next to impossible to cancel them due to the contract. It doesn't matter what one says or does, once that call is made you are out of some bucks.
Not picking sides here but just stating how things, for the most part, work.
BF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,257
From: SW Central OH
Before everyone gets the panties in a bunch...
we REALLY need to know where your wife pulled over. As has been mentioned, if she was blocking traffic, reguardless of putting the flashers on, the cop was right to have the vehcile towed. It was a traffic hazzard and there was no one around in the immediate area when he called it in.
That being said, the are more than a few tow companies that have contracts with the local PD's. Once they are called it is next to impossible to cancel them due to the contract. It doesn't matter what one says or does, once that call is made you are out of some bucks.
Not picking sides here but just stating how things, for the most part, work.
we REALLY need to know where your wife pulled over. As has been mentioned, if she was blocking traffic, reguardless of putting the flashers on, the cop was right to have the vehcile towed. It was a traffic hazzard and there was no one around in the immediate area when he called it in.
That being said, the are more than a few tow companies that have contracts with the local PD's. Once they are called it is next to impossible to cancel them due to the contract. It doesn't matter what one says or does, once that call is made you are out of some bucks.
Not picking sides here but just stating how things, for the most part, work.
And believe me you wouldnt want a system where the tow driver could be 'talked out of it'.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,594
From: Char-town, NC
.
Dang that sucks, but glad everything is okay now. I have mixed feelings about police. I had a really good ocifer that somehow let me off from a reckless driving ticket. I had just gotten out of a movie and was doing stupid things in a sports car and next thing I know I partially drift around a corner at a 4-light intersection and book it down the street. I saw the blue lights and thought that it would be a smart move to try to evade. So I hid behind a grocery store but the sports car was too loud not to notice where I was. Next thing I know, I'm stopped behind the grocery store and guess what? He knew where I was and followed me back there and I knew right then my day was ruined. I could have gone to jail for this stupid situation I put myself in or even have got a nice little ticket but he must have had mercy on my soul. He let me off with a talking to. No arrest, no ticket, no warning, no nothing. I was extremely lucky and still thank God for that miracle to this day! And guess what? I no longer have that sports car, I have a blazer. 
(the sports car was fine, I never wrecked it nor got another ticket in it but decided sports cars weren't for me from then on.
And on the other side, I've had a little dbag of a cop ticket me for failed inspection. I pleaded my case that I have been working on the truck for awhile and have gone to the inspection station over and over but still a failed inspection. He didn't seem to care and I'd liked to get out of my truck and beat his head in, but I bottled up the anger inside and went on my way. Needless to say, the blazer required a waiver after this long process. (Yes, I might have a short fuse)
(the sports car was fine, I never wrecked it nor got another ticket in it but decided sports cars weren't for me from then on.And on the other side, I've had a little dbag of a cop ticket me for failed inspection. I pleaded my case that I have been working on the truck for awhile and have gone to the inspection station over and over but still a failed inspection. He didn't seem to care and I'd liked to get out of my truck and beat his head in, but I bottled up the anger inside and went on my way. Needless to say, the blazer required a waiver after this long process. (Yes, I might have a short fuse)
It can also depend on how the cops day has been so far too. We'd all like to think they are infalible, but the truth is that they are people too and can have good days and bad days.
The best thing to do is suck it up and don't get beligerant, tell the truth and he may or may not see it your way.
The best thing to do is suck it up and don't get beligerant, tell the truth and he may or may not see it your way.
