Crackdown on Tow Firms Urged

Church administrator Rod Sprott figured it was a simple misunderstanding when his truck was towed from the parking lot of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Koreatown.

But when he went to the towing company to explain that it had taken the truck in error, company employees -- instead of returning his vehicle -- tried to extort money from him, he alleged.

Los Angeles city officials say Sprott’s experience is not unique: Five or six people a day have been complaining to the city attorney’s office that private towing companies are hauling away legally parked cars and then demanding money from the owners.

“We’re talking about tow trucks ripping off people’s cars,” said Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, who proposed new regulations Tuesday that would require tow companies to get advance written authorization from parking lot owners before towing cars from private lots.

Under current laws, tow companies that have arrangements to patrol restaurant, church and shopping mall parking lots can simply show up, hook cars to the back of their trucks and drive away.

In many instances, city officials say, that means cars are being towed even if property owners have not complained and sometimes even when the car’s owner is inside the establishment in question.

Earlier this month, City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo’s office filed a 25-count criminal complaint against Los Angeles-based Safety Towing Inc. and its owner, Heriberto Barrios, charging attempted extortion and vandalism.

In one instance, according to the city attorney’s office, a patron of El Pollo Loco had his car towed from that parking lot while he was eating his meal. When he went to retrieve his car, he discovered that his transmission had been damaged during the tow.

“This is really just insult to injury,” said Terree Bowers, chief deputy to Delgadillo. “It’s so difficult to find a parking place in Los Angeles. When you do find a legal place, you shouldn’t have to worry about a towing company taking it away.”