'They literally just took my whole life,' cries driver after car towed with no warning

A DRIVER has claimed she was left with nothing when the RV she was living in was towed with no warning for not having the proper registration.

Nicole Jasper has been living out of a motor home for the last three years in Sacramento, California with her two dogs.

Nicole Jasper saw her motor home towed away as part of a city's homeless sweepCredit: The Sacramento BeeShe said her motor home's registration was expired, hence being towedCredit: The Sacramento BeeShe said she wasn't allowed to retrieve items from her motor home, including food for her dogsCredit: The Sacramento Bee

Last week, Jasper's motor home was towed away as part of a homeless sweep initiated by the city after the state criminalized homeless individuals living in public places.

Jasper watched her home, which kept her belongings, essentials for her dogs, and her livelihood be towed without prior notice.

"I didn't even know they were coming at all," Jasper told The Sacramento Bee.

"They literally took my whole life away."

She recalled being told by the tow truck driver that her motor home was to be towed away, and she couldn't stop it.

"I wish they would have at least given me a day, you know? I just don't know why [the city] did it like that. I've heard of them doing it like that, but I didn't think they'd actually do it like that."

Jasper suspected the city had taken her motor home because her registration had expired.

She felt slighted, as she wasn't the only person whose registration was no longer valid.

"I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one who wasn't registered, so I don't know how they were picking and choosing, but [the tow truck driver] was adamant about taking mine, it was horrible."

My car disappeared from a lot after I got permission to park there - then I got a 'fishy' response about $380 tow bill

Jasper said the hardest part was not being able to retrieve any personal items from her home, including food for her dogs.

The city's towing hotline wasn't much help either, she said.

"I'm not sure what else to do at this point," she said.

"The city just has me on a waiting list."

Until she hears back from the city, she's staying at a homeless shelter with her two dogs.

The city's homeless sweep prompted a swift response from officials all over the city, with many saying it's "unfair" to take people's homes without offering alternatives.

What to do if your car is towed

Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.

If your vehicle is towed after parking in a "No Parking" zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.

Steps to take when your car is towed:

Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted "No Parking" sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.

If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:

Be prompt - many states have a small window of time where it's acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.

Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm

"I mean they have all these empty lots everywhere," Michael Hogan, a priest for the city, told Cap Radio earlier this month.

"Why can’t you just say ‘Here, you guys go here for six months. That’s what we got.’ That’d help out so many people out there. It would."

The city's new policy states there are two "safe parking" areas for those with motor homes or trailers, and plans to open more this year.

In August 2023, the city council approved a new strategy that would add temporary shelter spaces, including time homes and respite centers.

However, it takes a very long time for the city to open safe parking lots, creating more situations like Jasper's.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to the City of Sacramento for comment.

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