9 Investigates is investigating claims of targeted towing after residents of mostly Hispanic mobile home communities say they are being hunted. They told Channel 9 they were faced with sky-high bills, some as high as $800.
Now they want an end to the harmful regulations. The first step toward making that happen is scheduled for Thursday evening in northeast Charlotte, in the Charlotte Hills community, where tenants began negotiating with property owners.
These residents are often people who shy away from speaking in public, but now they are opting for a different approach.
READ ALSO: NC Attorney General Charges Predatory Tow Truck Driver With Racial Discrimination
Many told Channel 9’s Ken Lemon that it started with suspicious towing regulations that forced some of them to cross state lines to get their cars back. In many cases the cars were taken from their own driveway.
“We were fighting. We are fighting for our rights,” said Jessica Torres.
‘Benefiting people’
Torres has entered the fight alongside her neighbors at the Southern Villages mobile home park near Bessemer City. It’s just one of many communities like this spread across the Charlotte region.
The mostly Spanish-speaking neighbors who bought their homes and rented the land told Lemon they felt powerless. Torres said property owners have gone too far.
“Money. Abuse. Taking advantage of people who don’t speak out,” she said.
For many people it started with dragging. The operator of Affliction Towing near Greenville, South Carolina, said he has placed stickers on cars in some communities warning people to move their improperly parked cars or they will be towed within seven days.
Neighbors said that’s not true. They said a car with that sticker could be towed within hours, and often cars were towed without a sticker or warning.
READ MORE: NC House bill would tackle predatory booting and increased towing
“I’ve been here longer than anyone and they towed my car. They didn’t tell me anything,” Steele Albert said. “It was here, and they towed it away. Guy told me it would be $729. And if I hadn’t gone to get it, they would have charged me $54 a day in storage.”
Kimberly Guillen said the company towed two cars from her home.
“We had to pay about $800 to get the first car,” she said.
She and several others said they had to travel to a lot in Wellford, South Carolina — 60 miles away — to pick up their car, even though the law says you can’t tow a car more than 25 miles away.
Lemon asked a group of mothers and grandmothers how many of them had their cars towed or received a fine. Torres translated his question and almost everyone raised their hands.
Residents unite
The Southern Villages property owner cut ties with the towing company Wednesday evening.
“The towing was outrageous and that was the tip of it all. Like we’re done,” Torres said.
The group said their goal is to get owners to agree to new rules to benefit families. They believe that if they work together, they can force more property owners to negotiate.
9 Investigates: North Carolinians face tough battles against towing companies
There’s an effort underway in the North Carolina House to crack down on predatory towing. If it becomes law, companies will need a permit to do this type of work and it will have to be renewed every year.
The bill says that every time companies boot or tow a vehicle, they must place certain information in a database, including where the boot or tow occurred and why. Businesses would have to post clear signs about parking rules and wouldn’t be allowed to tow your ride more than 25 miles away.
The bill would also create a commission to set maximum rates for the type of towing.
Background of a towing company owner
The owner of the tow truck company has a troubled past, according to the sheriff’s office.
Christopher Cole, the owner of Affliction Towing, was charged with towing violations in Spartanburg County earlier this year.
Although he is not charged in the case we heard about Thursday, we also learned in February that officers near Greer, South Carolina, charged Cole with two violations of their towing ordinance.
Cole also has a pending charge from 2021, when investigators say he pointed a gun at someone during an argument with another towing company.
Although the property management group cut ties with Affliction Towing on Wednesday evening, neighbors say they’re still unhappy that the company has already gotten many for thousands of dollars.
Local laws
Towing rules vary depending on where you live. Click on the links below to learn more about towing laws in our region:
(WATCH BELOW: NC House bill would crack down on predatory booting and more towing)
