“Did you tow my car?”

“My car is missing! I went out to go somewhere and I can’t find my car!”

“My niece was visiting me for the week and she went out to get us some breakfast and can’t find her car. Would it have been towed?”

All three of these scenarios are happening at communities all across the country. How you answer the question depends on if you have a Parking Policy and/or a Tow Policy. Generally speaking, apartment communities are considered Private Property and the City in which you are located typically has little jurisdiction on towing on privately owned properties.

For some reason our residents seem to think they do not have to abide by a community’s parking rules and must be immune to being towed. I used to dislike these inquiring phone calls; however, my attitude has changed over the last few years.

Recently a resident whose car had in fact been towed (for the second time, I might add since she moved into the community in June) had called leaving a highly emotionally charged message on the community’s office telephone. She proceeded to call every minute for 30 minutes, which means, 30 calls showing made. I returned her call and she was upset and angry about being towed. When I asked her where she was parked, she stated in a Handicap Spot. She proceeded to defend her right to park there because upon arriving home, “there was no space available.”

“I see. There were zero open spots in the entire community’s parking lots?”

She admitted there were open spots but they were “too far to walk” as it was “very dark at 1:30 in the morning. And I have kids to get to school and I am missing work and I cannot afford to get my car out! What are YOU going to do????”

The Regional Manager had already had this conversation with her the first time she parked in a Handicap Spot and got towed. I responded that I would not have parked in that Handicap spot. Period.”

She responded that yes, I would! I told I wouldn’t have and let me tell you why. On January 1, 2015 I woke up and found I could not walk. Simply. Could. Not. Do. It. They had to take me to the hospital and for the next six months I was medicated for pain and nerve damage and started on a course of physical therapy that lasted three years. I am so happy and relieved that I can walk now, that I don’t care if I had to walk a block, I would park a block away and be glad I had the ability to walk home. Because I CAN.

Residents need to understand that if they can walk, there are plenty of others in this world who cannot. Just because WE cannot SEE what their problem may be that causes pain, or shortness of breath, or immobility, the fact that they display a hang tag or marked license plate gives them the right to park in a designated spot. Residents without such designations are not entitled to do so. For those of us who try to maintain parking lots that may have little, too few in number, or just inadequate for today’s renters (because we know there are residents who own 2 vehicles plus drive a company vehicle), do not apologize for your Tow Policy.