Predatory Towing

[Gypsy0005]

In the middle of a battle right now to get my son's vehicle back from a towing company in Perth Amboy. Must say that the Piscataway Police Department couldn't be LESS helpful if they tried.
Vehicle was parked in the Lowe's Shopping Center on Centennial Ave on Christmas eve. My daughter in law works in one of the stores there and has for 8 yrs. The vehicle was left while they attended a family dinner and get together. When the kids went back to get the vehicle they found it missing. Assuming it had been stolen they went to the police. Prior to taking report the police did research and told them it was towed by a company out of Perth Amboy. The police department was very familiar with them and said they have had numerous complaints about this company. My son has called the towing company who wants $400 to give car back, the property management company who said they shouldn't have towed the car, Piscataway Township to try to find towing ordinance fees, etc. So far NO ONE will do anything to help. The shopping center does NOT have the posted signs required. They have one or two generic "No parking or you will be towed" signs, but nothing else. Vehicles are left in this lot all the time. some of the business work round the clock, except Christmas. Seems this company saw it as an opportunity to pad their wallets and towed numerous vehicles during this time. They also towed vehicles out of the connecting Friday's lot. So a few responsible drivers who chose not to drive after drinking were also penalized.
Am at a loss as to how to get some action without paying $400 to get the car. My son can not afford to be robbed like this. No one can!
Need suggestions on how to not only rectify our situation, but to stop this company from doing this to anyone else. My son has spent the entire day running from place to place to try to get his car back. He even sat in Perth Amboy outside the towing company yesterday waiting for call back from them to get his car. The fact that he told me the place had a few bullet holes in it gave me grey hair, but didn't surprise me. If this company treats all their customers like they have treated him I can see some folks that don't abide by the law firing a few shots at them.
Help! Suggestions? Advice?

[Eagle]

There are a couple of things you can do. First, you can file a complaint for theft with the Perth Amboy Municipal Court. Name the towing company and the owner as defendants. Second, file a civil suit in superior court for fraud. This may take the help of a lawyer.

In the mean time you may have to pay $400 to get the car. Also, read this article: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...operators.html


Also read this: http://www.njlawblog.com/2008/06/art...ry-towing-act/

[Gypsy0005]

Eagle...thanks for the reply. We have since gotten the car back. After calls and visits to Piscataway police, Jay Lynn Towing, Piscataway Municipal offices and getting nowhere my son contacted Middlesex County Prosecutors Office. Lo and behold an office that was actually willing to help. They made call to Piscataway Police and they then agreed to take report and call towing company to release car. Employer paid towing bill and by contract will take amount out of rent (by the time they got to tow yard the bill was $587) and settle problem with property management company. I am familiar with the Predatory Towing Prevention Act and can tell you that this property and towing company is violating EVERY provision listed. Closest they come to compliance is a few random "Unauthorized vehicles will be towed" around the property.
My son and I will be following up with complaints with everyone we can involve. Hopefully his misfortune can help others avoid this same nightmare.
Thanks again for the reply!