A new law is set to ban large vehicles from being parked or towed on busy residential streets, in addition to a “72-hour rule”.
Officials say they were responding to residents' concerns about nuisance parking, but some drivers claim it will ruin their living arrangements.
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The Fremont City Council voted unanimously to limit parking to 72 hours and ban recreational vehicle parking in residential areas.
By law, any vehicle parked in the same location for 72 hours must be moved back at least 1,000 feet.
Fremont City Councilman Raj Sloan said the proposal is an attempt to try to address the issue of overnight parking.
“First, we have to implement this and it's going to take some time to scale it up, so we want to get resources to those individuals whether that's through nonprofits, permanent affordable housing, shelters, all of the above and so I'm ready to go,” Sloan said. Moving forward with this matter.”
However, the new rule is causing problems for some families because it threatens to change their living arrangements.
“Oh, it's a tough time for them, most of all, you know, because they need their own space,” mother Sina Lopez, who lives inside with her three teens, told ABC7News.
“Mostly for my daughter because she's the only one and the oldest, so it's kind of hard,” Lopez said.
She added: “It's the same thing. Just like they pay taxes, I pay taxes… I work. So I don't know.”
“They can say, 'Oh, they're not paying the rent' — that's totally true, but it's expensive you know. My job isn't here to buy clothes or food or gas or gas. (It's) in San Jose.”
The mother claims her family parked the RV along Irvington Park for about six months.
However, Sheila Mani, a local resident who lives in a house a few meters away, said they have been living here much longer.
“A year and a half,” Manny said.
Manny and the residents tried to convince city leaders to take some kind of action.
“We have reached the point where the apathy is not only depressing, but we have reached the point of no hope,” she said.
What to do if your car is towed
Whether it was a mistake or not, recovering a towed vehicle can be difficult.
If your car is towed after being parked in a “no parking” zone or for any other legitimate reason, there are some steps you must take to get it back.
Steps you must follow when towing your car:
- Try to find out why your car was towed. Didn't you see the “No Parking” sign? Did you miss your car payment? Have you gone back to a lot where you had unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the range of phone numbers to call.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or mailed.
- Return dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted on the website or can be read by a representative.
- Pay fees. Make sure to be as quick as possible, as some towing lots may charge a daily storage fee.
If you feel that your vehicle has been towed illegally, the action can be disputed by following these steps:
- Be quick – Many states have a small window of time in which it is acceptable to file a complaint against the company that wrongly towed the vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if possible. The more evidence, the better.
- Know your local laws, as towing company laws vary from state to state.
- Try talking to the towing company. Sometimes it may just be a simple oversight, and the problem can be quickly resolved.
- Contact a justice of the peace in your area, as they may have more knowledge or resources to help. They are often used for towing situations.
- Talk to a lawyer. Many attorneys have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be beneficial to hire an attorney.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National Public Office, Ras Al Khaimah Law Firm
