This is one of those days when I think violence must solve more problems the easy way sometimes. My scooter was, as far as I’m concerned, illegally towed last night. The towing will be $85 when I pay the fuckers out of my nice new “mostly for rent” cheque today. There’s still a city ticket on top of that, but I’m so fighting that bitch.
See, I’m no dummy. I had a by-law enforcement officer take a walk with me once and show me all the legal places to park, explaining why it’s legal, and for the three years since that chat, I’ve not been ticketed or towed once. So, what’s up with last night?
I’m left wondering if the area I was in was owned by the city, in which case it’s not private property, etc, etc. In any case, I’m broke, I’m pissed, and my week deserved to end better than this.
But it kept me from wanting to write last night, and ditto this morning. Especially since I’ve got to go ride the bus carrying my helmet, work my full day, then find the stupid bike at whatever moronic tow lot it’s at.
The thing that goads me is, I’ll fight the ticket, and even if I win and prove it’s wrongful, I’m STILL stuck paying for the ticket. The kicker? Towing a scooter costs MORE than a car ($85! Groceries? Who needs groceries, right?). Fuck, man!
Fuck you, Buster’s Towing, and fuck you, city of vancouver vindictive-little-bylaw-person.
BUT… for every few dicks like that in the world, there’s one like this who makes living life a promising, hopeful thing. With that, I’m off to find a lowly bus. I’ll fetch my abandoned, sad little scooter this evening. Maybe I’ll even reward Pussycat with a washing this weekend. Poor, poor Pussycat.
6 Comments
Is there nothing like a small claims court here in Vancouver? Surely if you were wrongly towed you can’t be expected to pay for any part of it. Could you not take the towing company to said court? If not, what is to stop the towing company from wrongfully towing anyone when they won’t have any consequences to face?
By any chance were the parking rules changed – without informing the public of course?
Sounds like a story Metro or 24 might be interested in.
Fight the Power!
Thanks, Brian. :) Gonna take a cerebral break from it for a couple days, then figure out something to write the Sun or Province on Sunday, so maybe my bitching will be in the Letters to the Editor Monday. Wouldn’t be the first time I had one in there.
So, correction on the price: $106 after taxes and fucking “overnight storage” fee — it wasn’t even there for 24 hours!
“Well, that’s how we make money” the fucker from Buster’s says.
“No SHIT. Way to state the obvious, guy,” I retorted.
I know he’s just doing his job, but you gotta expect the flak when yer working at BUSTERS, for god’s sake.
Okay, okay, I’ll breathe now and chill… on my broke ass.
Oh, and apparently I can contest the ticket, and if I win the case, the towing fee should be reimbursed or something.
Letcha know when it’s resolved, in, like, fuckin’ October or whatever.
It is only right and just that any ticket should be able to be disputed in the courts. Otherwise it just becomes another form of tax revenue.
some help for you
http://www.parkingticket.com/help/
http://www.trafficticketsecrets.com/parking-ticket.html
http://www.b2byellowpages.com/directory/web_search_yellow_pages_a_z/parking-ticket-contesting-services.shtml
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/parking/enf/disputing.htm
http://www.clubvibes.com/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=412941
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20050831a1can.asp
http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/tickets/info/violation_ticket.htm
http://www.cnv.org/server.aspx?c=3&i=263
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/nrm_news_releases/2004AG0020-000303.htm
Good luck!
What is it with traffic issues this past week & a half?! I’ve witnessed two seriously close calls on the highway, and two episodes of scarily-escalating road rage, and on Monday I got rear-ended whilst stopped in traffic. A guy hit me & plowed me into the stopped car in front of me, so my beloved little car is a right mess.
At least nobody was hurt. I’m chanting that over & over, trying to get over feeling put-upon by all the insurance/repair/inconvenience bullshit.
I hope you get satisfaction on that unjust towing.
awesome, thanks, brian. i’ll delve into your links over the next week or two, but i’ll file an appeal in the next few days.
anon– aww, that sucks, but it’s a good thing you’re okay… make sure you have no whiplash, hey? and good luck with insurance. :)