Park anywhere will they get caught eventually seems like a million times, but some people learn the hard way that laws exist for a reason, for example, parking laws nearest to your property is created for a reason especially when you mess with the wrong person. In this instance, a delayed car that was on deck for when the Virginia State Police needed a tow truck driver became annoyed. It was a wild house party at her neighbors, and even though she had clearly told them NOT to block her driveway, by almost 30 cars did.
When she asked the host of the party to move the cars, so that her child’s body could get through, she was met with ridicule, profanity, and beer was thrown at her. So instead of losing her stuff, she had the legal final say she called the tow truck and had every illegally parked vehicle towed away. More than one car was taken away, one underage driver was arrested for DUI and the party-goers had to go an pick-up their cars at a cost of hundreds of dollars. The parents of some of the teens who had left their cars overnight were angry, but there were clear “No Parking” signs up so there was not much the parents could do legally to fight the tows.
Parking your car in a place where it isn’t allowed might end in you having to retrieve it from a tow yard
This woman decided to tow a few cars, since her neighbor didn’t care for parking rules, nor for her requests
The Legality and Consequences of Illegal Parking & Private Property Impounds
Private Property Impounds (PPI): When Can You Legally Tow a Vehicle?
There is nothing to indicate that what OP did violated any laws, especially as in this case it probably was covered by private property impound (PPI) laws, which provide a legal basis for owners of private property to have illegally parked vehicles removed. While regulations vary from state to state, in most jurisdictions:
- Thus, a property owner is allowed to immediately tow a car if it is obstructing a driveway, a fire lane, or a posted no-parking area.
- There must have been no parking signs in sight for the tow to be illegal (and OP made sure there were).
- State laws and towing companies determine how much they charge for tow fees, daily storage and release fees. Source: National Parking Association
Here, in Virginia where this happened, state law provides for the immediate removal of unauthorized vehicles on private property if there are signs and local law enforcement is notified. OP did everything by the book, even summoned an officer to witness the removals in case of disputes. Cited As: Virginia Code § 46.2-1231
Legal Consequences of Blocking Driveways and Public Roads
- In fact, blocking a driveway can be a ticketable offense in most states with fines ranging between $100 and $500.
- Trespassing laws can also apply when a vehicle is parked on someone else’s land without the owner’s consent.
- Those who leave their vehicles behind (as some partiers did) face extra impounding charges, vehicle holds and the risk of getting their license suspended if they don’t reclaim their cars. (Source: DMV. org)
Underage Drinking and DUI Charges: The Cost of Bad Decisions
One irresponsible party-goer would park her truck, and rather than move it, she tried to drive, drunk, and that’s how she was caught for underage drinking and DUI. In Virginia:
Image credits: Michael Greene (Not the actual photo)
- First convictions for DUI are punishable by up to 12 months in prison, a fine of $2,500, and suspension of the guilty party’s license for 12 months.
- Unlicensed Drivers (Under 21 years): A barely there BAC of zero-point-zero-two-percent can result in a zero-tolerance DUI, regardless of whether the licensed driver crashes. (Source: Virginia DMV)
That means the young driver not only lost her car for the weekend, but she’s also looking at serious legal repercussions all because she and her friends wouldn’t relocate when they had the opportunity.
Financial Fallout: How Much Did the Tows Cost?
OP at least made sure that every one of these vehicles was legally towed, and subject to the related impound fees, which racked up quickly:
- Tow fee per vehicle: $289.50
- Daily storage fee (per day): $55
- Gate release fee (non-business hours): $100
More than $500 a vehicle if you stayed overnight a cruel reminder to never trust a parking sign.
The OP shared some more details in the comments
An easy example of this kind of legal payback: this story serves as a guide. OP warns several times and has several signs up and even calls the police before towing. Those partygoers, who opted for the disrespectful, irresponsible and spoiled routes, rightly paid the price the literal price. Eventually, every car owner faced the financial and legal fallout of their actions and it just goes to show, never mess with a tow truck driver.
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