'It's complete bull,' rages driver who went into cellphone store for 30 min and found himself towed with $150 fine

A QUICK stop at a store has resulted in a costly car removal that public officials said was completely legal.

A Volkswagen Golf driver went to a tech store for less than an hour, but his car was swept from the parking lot in just a few minutes.

Cars were swiftly taken from parking lots against drivers' wills (stock image)Credit: Alamy

"It's complete bull," the driver, John Hoydich, said to Today after his car was towed in 2015.

"I come out, and it's being towed away as I'm walking there, standing there in front of the store."

Hoydick said he sprinted after the truck to stop the driver, but he couldn't catch it.

The vehicle was parked directly next to a "no parking" sign.

City officials said the quick tow was completely legal. However, they set out to try and stop more similar tows from happening.

Eric Friedman, the-then director of Office of Consumer Protection in the Maryland county, said drivers are subject to $150 fees.

"This law was designed to create a balance in a shopping center so that a merchant can make sure that only people coming into their store are parking there," he told the publication.

"These tow truck operators have found a way to take advantage of that."

Friedman said the state saw an influx of towing companies who became predators in parking lots.

Cars parked for short amounts of time could be swept up by towing companies hoping to make quick cash.

My car was towed without warning during a birthday party - I had proof I was in the right, but cops could do nothing--

"These towers are acting as judge, jury, and jailer," Friedman said.

"They decide if there's been a violation. They swoop in and attach the vehicle. They remove it and they hold it until a fee is paid."

New Maryland road laws have specific changes to quell the practice.

The state's laws now specify towing companies may not employ "spotters" to watch over parking lots for infractions.

Instead, towing companies must now attain the name of the person seeking a car's removal, a statement from the lot owner, and photo evidence of the misparked car.

TOW TROUBLES

Several other drivers have complained after their cars were quickly towed from different lots.

A driver in North Carolina said their car was taken while they were celebrating a birthday.

Law enforcement also couldn't help - the driver was told to settle the issue through civil courts.

In another community, residents said their cars were taken by private towing companies in the dark of night.

"They sneak up and get the cars and they back out without anyone even knowing that they are over here," one of the drivers said.

However, the state passed a similar law that capped towing fines.

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