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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