re: School is Back so beware of Predatory towing by Riverside Towing

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The LSU school year always begins with a rash of towing and complaints by students that their cars were improperly or illegally towed. Predatory towing is big business in Baton Rouge, so people should know their rights. So, please note these requirements that are often violated by predatory towing companies:

The towing law requires that, before vehicles are towed without consent of the vehicle owner, the property owner must post signs that specifically warn that “unauthorized vehicles” may be towed. Riverside Towing’s standard signs do not warn that “unauthorized vehicles” might be towed, though it has apparently started adding the required language to some of its signs. If the signs do not comply with the statute, the tow is illegal.

Signs must be posted at each entrance and exit to the restricted parking lot. Many times, the towing companies do not do this. After all, they are not trying to prevent improper parking. They are hoping you will park where they can tow you and charge you lots of money.

If only certain spaces or areas are off limits to parking, those areas must be marked.s Riverside Towing has violated this law many times, and was recently found guilty of two counts of illegal towing after it towed cars from a space that was not marked with the required signs. Riverside Towing was fined and the Bank that allegedly authorized the tow paid $8,000 to each of those people whose cars were illegally towed.

The towing law requires that the mandated signs be clearly visible at all entrances and exits. Riverside rarely, if ever, posts signs that are visible from exits.

The towing law requires that the towing company operator ensure that all of the signage requirements of the towing statute are complied with before towing any vehicle. On many occasions,Riverside Towing has not complied with this provision.

The towing law requires a written contract between the property owner and towing company stating the rules for parking and the reasons for towing. I have never seen a Riverside Towing contract that, in my opinion, complies with the statute. If the contract does not comply, the tow is illegal.

The tow ticket must identify the property owner, state certain times such as the time of dispatch and drop off, and the name of the driver, and other information. I have reviewed many Riverside Tow tickets. I have never seen a single one that contained the information required by law.

The law also provides: “Any tow truck operator who fails to comply with the provisions of this Section, who fails to provide a billing invoice which contains the information required by this Section to the redeemer of the motor vehicle, or who tows a vehicle in violation of this Section shall be in violation of the provisions of R.S. 14:68.4 and shall be subject to any applicable penalty prescribed by law, including but not limited to the revocation of the towing license. Lack of knowledge of the conduct of a tow truck company employee shall not be a defense for the tow truck company owner.” Unfortunately, the Baton Rouge police have declined to charge Riverside for the felony crimes involved in illegal towing.

If your car is wrongly towed by Riverside Towing or any other company, document the facts with photographs.- where it was towed from, the signs posted, entrances and exits were there were no signs posted, and everything else that may be important. If the tow did not comply with the law, you are entitled to recover compensation and get the towing fees back.

I do not recommend confronting any thug tow truck drivers. If you catch them about to tow your car, know that they cannot tow a car with a person in it. Video any improper conduct by the drivers and by the rude people who work at the Riverside Towing lot. You can post them at LINK /

And, if you are towed improperly, by all means file a complaint with the State Police. You can find the complaint form at the same facebook page. Remember, if all of the people who are wrongly towed file complaints, the predatory and illegal towing will be stopped.

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There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes.

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I'm not trying to say these towing companies don't do illegal things,

i just think idiot college kids make shite up a lot of times when they do something wrong and can't admit it. Someone is usually telling these guys to come tow people.

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I lived in a condo I owned next to campus, I probably called to have cars towed out of my parking spot 20 times over three years. There were signs every 10 feet saying you will be towed if you park here without a permit. Several times the kids would come running as the tow truck loaded up, they always had an excuse, didn't see the sign, only parked there for 5 minutes, the parking lot was empty so why does it matter.

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I lived in a condo I owned next to campus, I probably called to have cars towed out of my parking spot 20 times over three years. There were signs every 10 feet saying you will be towed if you park here without a permit. Several times the kids would come running as the tow truck loaded up, they always had an excuse, didn't see the sign, only parked there for 5 minutes, the parking lot was empty so why does it matter.

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Just because people who are legitimately towed make a stink about it, doesn't mean that people who are illegitimately towed do not exist. Your argument is basically like saying "I owned a retail store and every person who stole from me told the cops they didn't do it, therefore all alleged thieves should be considered guilty."

I get it, tons of college kids make up excuses for their own irresponsible behavior and make themselves out to be a victim. But I have heard enough about Riverside from people I respect to know the difference.

Nice work Neil.

If I am reading right, a parking lot must have proper signage to be qualified for a legal tow to occur.

If the signs were defaced, or damaged by kids with spray paint or a paintball gun, would the sign be legit? I would think that a sign that is spray painted closes down the towing operations in that lot until the sign is repaired.

Thanks for the down vote, sausage jockey.

I am not a legal expert and would appreciate input from those with more knowledge.