Philly officials refuse to fix "courtesy-tow" problem as class-action lawsuits proceed
Philadelphia Inquirer link: https://archive.ph/PjhpJ (this is a no paywall link)
Ten new victims — including two drivers who never found their cars — have joined a pair of potential class-action lawsuits targeting the city’s dysfunctional system for relocating vehicles due to roadwork, construction, and special events.
But city lawyers have responded in court filings by arguing that the problem is … someone else’s fault. “[T]hey do not claim an injury that is fairly traceable to the City,” Anne Taylor, chief deputy city solicitor, wrote of the plaintiffs. Last week, a federal judge rejected the city’s motions to have the lawsuits tossed and ordered the parties to engage in mediation.
“This is a huge problem and we really want to see some actual change come of this,” said Aarthi Manohar, a lawyer representing 17 plaintiffs in the two cases. They are seeking class-action status on behalf of potentially thousands of victims.
- more at link -
Just to be clear - the city operates this "courtesy tow" but it's not for impounding scofflaws or even for cars parked in the wrong spot. Legally and correctly parked cars have been moved without notifying the owners, and subsequently lost. The vehicle owners have been subjected to large fines and other costs, due to the negligence of the city.
It doesn't need to happen this way, and the City of Philadelphia needs to stop it immediately.
That's the reason for the class action lawsuit.
= new reply since forum marked as read
The "courtesy tow" happens when a car is parked in a legal, correct spot, but the city needs to move the car for some reason. Maybe they have an emergency where they're digging up the pavement. Or maybe the police need to clear the area for some reason. These cars are moved to another street - and left there - without notifying the owner that their car was moved.
What would you think if your car isn't where you KNOW you parked it? Probably most of us would think the car was stolen, and report it as stolen. The poor, sad people of Philly sometimes have to go up and down every street to find their own car somewhere else, and maybe they'll never find it. Why? because the city isn't keeping track of where the "courtesy tow" cars ended up.
Other cities have a solution for this problem but Philadelphia refuses to learn from them. They continue to screw their own citizens, sometimes costing them a lot of money. THAT'S the reason for this class action lawsuit. It's carefully explained in the Inquirer story.
