What began as one parking lot owner’s frustration with big rigs spilling over onto his property has drawn the attention of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Homeland Security. After one trucker was presented with a towing invoice for more than $17,000, one trucking outfit plans to file a civil lawsuit.
Fenn Church of Church Transportation recently attended a Memphis hearing regarding city permits for A1’s Hauling and Towing. A pair of Church Transportation trucks were reportedly towed from a lot next to a Love’s truck stop. Tractor-trailer operators would routinely temporarily park their rigs when the Love’s lot was at capacity, typically to run in for food and beverages. Church filed a complaint with the Memphis permits office in an attempt to recoup what many view as excessive costs and, potentially, illegal towing.
“They are pursuing them federally on criminal charges. So, that was the biggest thing for the meeting today,” Church reportedly. “They just wanted to get them to admit stuff.”
Two of his drivers were reportedly booted while running into Love’s for allegedly not paying to park. After swiping plastic to pay the fee, the boots failed to read the credit cards. A female trucker reportedly received similar treatment nearby. A1’s towing reportedly booted her rig and she locked herself inside to avoid being towed.
“When she went to the bathroom, they took off with the truck,” Church reportedly said.
Inevitably, she received a bill for $12,550 to retrieve her truck. An attorney for A1’s towing argues there are signs requiring truckers to pay to park on the vacant lot. The lawyer contends truck drivers refuse to pay the fees once the boot has been secured in place. Church says the towing operation is not following Tennessee law that places a maximum fine of $50 per boot, as well as interfering with interstate commerce.
“They’re not following the state law as far as when you boot someone. You’ve got to give them an invoice, and they’ve got 24 hours to pay it. But, you know, they don’t even give you an hour,” Church said.
With the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security now investigating claims that interstate commerce vehicles are being illegally towed, the parking lot owner reportedly wants to end the boot-and-tow practice. The property owner reportedly stated the towing company would not release him from the contract. Some irate trucking company owners are calling for a boycott of Memphis-area fuel stations.
https://legisarchive.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2007_2011/bl2009_525.pdf
https://autos.yahoo.com/tennessee-towing-company-terrorized-many-173000055.html
https://wreg.com/news/local/city-investigating-a1s-towing-after-truck-drivers-file-complaints/
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