Connecticut Towing Companies Use Belongings Left in Cars as Leverage to Collect Fees, Drivers Say
—
The Connecticut DMV allows owners to get back into towed cars to retrieve items that are essential to their health and welfare. But people have lost work equipment, car seats, important documents and priceless mementos.
https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-dmv-lost-belongings?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post
Connecticut allows towing companies to sell some people’s cars after just 15 days — one of the shortest windows in the country.
The sales have particularly affected low-income people, who have lost jobs after they were unable to get their cars back.
UPDATE: The Connecticut DMV and top state lawmakers have vowed to review towing laws after a CT Mirror and ProPublica investigation found that people’s cars can be sold just 15 days after they’re towed.
How Many Cars Have Connecticut Towing Companies Sold? The DMV Can’t Tell Us.
—
When reporters set out to quantify the impact of a Connecticut law that allows companies to sell some cars they’ve towed after just 15 days, the DMV said records would cost $47,000; it has revised the estimate but hasn't given us the records.
For years, a Connecticut towing company got to cut the line at the DMV in exchange for selling towed cars at deep discounts, according to a DMV report, allowing one DMV employee to resell them for steep profits.
Connecticut DMV Never Set Up System to Enforce a Century-Old Towing Law
—
Towing companies can sell vehicles if owners don’t reclaim them or can’t afford the fees. To protect drivers, they’re supposed to turn over unclaimed profits, but the state says that’s never happened.
https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-towing-law-enforcement?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post
