Here's my towing story in state college. It's 1980 or 1981. My car gets towed from the apartment I was moving into the day of move-in. I was parked in a permitted spot without a permit for about an hour. Well, since I didn't have a parking place secured yet I thought "no problem", I don't need the car right now so I'll get it when I need it. Clearly, I wasn't aware of storage fees. Well, around 8 weeks later I needed my car and found out that I owed nearly $800 to get it back. So, I did what any desperate college student would do in that position and took possession of my vehicle.
Well, about 3 - 4 weeks later my phone rings and a state college police officer is on the phone trying to get me to tell him I took the car from the lot. I knew he was up to no good so I played dumb and at the end of the call he said he'd be charging with Theft of Services.
So, about 4 weeks later I'm in court and I brought a local attorney who was going to cost me about $50. He asked me if I had damaged anything or if anyone had seen me retrieving the car. I hadn't damaged anything and wasn't seen as it was after midnight and very dark. We listened to the police officer state the charges and his evidence and anything he thought would help the case. When the officer finished, my attorney stood up and said the "Your Honor the State has no case". With that, the judge said, "you're right, would the defendant care to offer some amount to help defray costs?"
My attorney took me into the hallway and suggested I offer something so the judge doesn't get mad, give a guilty verdict, and make me appeal. He assured me we'd win at appeal but it would take a lot of time and money. So, I told him to offer the $35 towing fee but no storage fees since I was not notified in any way about those expenses.
My attorney offered the $35 and the tow truck owner said "I don't understand we (meaning him and the officer) always win when we come to court". The judge asked him "do you want the $35" and the dope said no. The judge immediately said case Dismissed.
Total time including signing in, waiting, court, was about 15 minutes. We got outside and my attorney told me "no charge" since he it went so fast.
www.statecollege.com
