SAN ANTONIO - The state hits a local towing company with a huge fine after the News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooters expose its aggressive towing tactics.
Trouble Shooter Jaie Avila obtained the exclusive results of the state's investigation.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is accusing Bexar Towing of committing almost 50 violations. Things like towing a car that was legally parked, and failing to notify drivers of their rights. To settle the case Bexar Towing would have to pay $62,000.
Many of the alleged violations involve Bexar Towing's tactics for towing vehicles quickly, sometimes minutes after a driver has parked.
In an undercover investigation last February, we showed you how the company was using spotters in unmarked cars who would quickly slap boots on vehicles to disable them until a tow truck could show up within minutes.
The investigator supervising the case tells us that's a violation of state rules. "Once you're booted, at a facility, they have to wait 24 hours before you can actually be towed", said Jeff Rinard, TDLR's lead investigator.
The state also accuses Bexar Towing of not informing drivers about an important right.
According to Rinard, "If you come out and your car is in the process of being towed, you have the right to pay a lesser fee, what we call a drop fee, and have your vehicle dropped by the towing company."
Edward Davis claims Bexar Towing refused to drop his vehicle when he came out of a medical office last month and found his car being hooked up to a wrecker.
Davis says he offered to pay a drop fee.
"They said, 'No, we don't work like that. We're going to have to take your car, you're going to have to find a way to get over there, and you'll have to pay the fee there.'"
Some of the other violations Bexar Towing is accused of: failing to post all the required information on its signs. Also, not allowing drivers to review a list of charges before paying to get their cars back.
Bexar Towing would not respond to our request for an interview. The company can ask for a hearing to deny the allegations.
