It was reported that in November of 2002, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker received a 1:15 a.m. phone call from Margaret Rose Murray. Murray was calling to tell Meeker about something she believed gave our city a bad name–predatory towing. Murray had some friends in from out-of-town. They had gone downtown and parked in the lot in front of the BTI Center, a lot that was, at the time, unused and empty. When they returned to the lot around 1 a.m. they found all of their cars had been towed. There were no clear signs stating that towing was enforced; the group was shocked.

The next day Mayor Meeker announced that it was time to crack down on predatory towing in Raleigh. Over the next two years predatory towing was discussed in the City Council and by local media outlets. Finally, in December of 2004, new legislation concerning predatory towing became active. Meeker declared that private lots that would tow had to clearly mark that no parking was allowed and that towing would be used to enforce this.

Meeker also declared that towing companies could not charge more than $100 for a tow made without consent and that if you return to your car before the truck leaves the lot you can get your car back for a charge not exceeding $50. Tow lots also have to have somebody on the lot 24 hours a day so that they can respond to a driver’s call within 15 minutes and have the car released within 45 minutes. The legislation did a good bit to help with some of the towing problems downtown but unfortunately, there is still an issue here at N.C. State.

The sharks of the towing business are now swimming around N.C. State. As a State student you undoubtedly have either been towed yourself or know somebody who has been towed. Whether they are lurking around the Food Lion on Western Boulevard or hunting around Sakura Express and Sylvia’s Pizza, the tow trucks are always out looking for an easy $100. The towing companies use various gray areas in the law and unclear signs to take advantage of us, the students of N.C. State.

Right now one of the biggest projects Meeker is working on is a complete revitalization of Raleigh. There will be a new convention center, new parking decks and the Hillsborough Street revitalization project.

Mayor Meeker, before any good can come from the Hillsborough Street revitalization project you have to address the predatory towing issues. One of the main reasons that many people don’t use Hillsborough Street more often is because of a fear of being towed, not because it isn’t aesthetically pleasing. The Raleigh City Council needs to take an in-depth examination of the towing practices surrounding the N.C. State community and the possible monetary kickbacks that several local businesses are receiving from towing companies.

It’s time for the predatory towing around N.C. State to end. Join me in letting Mayor Meeker know about this problem that is affecting more than 30,000 Raleigh citizens.

Are you going to join Joe in letting Mayor Meeker know about towing issues? E-mail and let us know at [email protected].