A Colorado woman says a trip to the doctor’s office turned into a costly towing dispute. She claims a towing company targeted vehicles parked near the medical office.
On June 25, Emerald Praxis (@sammyraye86) documented the aftermath of this experience in a viral video that has amassed over 244,000 views as of this writing.
“This tow company here is preying on people who are here at the doctor’s office,” she says.
Why Was Her Vehicle Towed?
According to the woman, she parked before taking her daughter inside for an appointment. She says no towing warning appeared when she left the vehicle. She then points toward a sign near the parking area. She repeatedly describes it as brand new.
“As you can see, the sign is brand new,” she says.
The woman claims the sign did not exist when she parked. She also says another towed vehicle faced the same situation.
“After we brought our daughter into the doctor’s office here, they took our vehicle,” she says.
The situation appears to become more stressful when the family tries to recover the car. She claims the towing company demanded $268 to release their vehicle. She also says workers offered a separate vehicle owner to remove their vehicle from the truck for $100.
The woman says the family now faces a difficult situation. She says they have no transportation after leaving the doctor’s office.
“We are on foot with our 8-year-old and have no way to get to the car,” she says. “She just had blood taken.”
What Is the Legality of the Towing Company’s Actions?
Private-property towing can become controversial when drivers say they never saw a warning. The legality depends heavily on the state and local jurisdiction.
Private lots generally have different rules than public streets. Many jurisdictions require clear notice before a private-property tow. Some also require property owner authorization and specific information about warning signs.
Colorado regulates nonconsensual towing from private property through state law and generally requires adequate notice before a private-property tow. That notice must explain the parking rules. It must also warn that violations may result in towing at the owner’s expense.
That requirement could matter in this woman’s situation. She claims the warning sign appeared after she parked. If true, the timing could undermine the towing company’s justification. Colorado law requires signs for private-property towing. The signs must provide specific information about parking restrictions.
Colorado’s 2024 towing legislation created an independent cause of action for violations of the state’s towing laws. The law also treats towing violations as deceptive trade practices under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.
That does not mean every disputed vehicle towed automatically creates a successful lawsuit. The driver would need evidence showing that the towing company violated the applicable requirements. Evidence could include photographs, videos, receipts, towing records, and witness statements.
The alleged timing of the sign could become especially important. If surveillance footage showed that the company installed the sign after the woman parked, she could have stronger evidence. She could also document the sign’s location and appearance. She should request the towing company’s documentation. That includes the reason for the tow, photographs, authorization, and an itemized bill.
Subplot News requested comment from Praxis via TikTok direct message and comment, and from Time’s Mannagift Towing via its website’s contact form. We will update this story if they respond.
@sammyraye86 #scammers #coloradosprings ♬ original sound – Emerald Praxis 💚
