 |
 |
| Elia Miller / Scroll |
|
| With more students back at BYU-Idaho, parking spots are more limited and towing has once again become a concern for students, police and housing complexes. |
|
It took less than five minutes before he saw his car being towed from right under his nose.
On the night of Sept. 7, a Rexburg towing company towed the car of Bryan Brusman, a sophomore from Lockhaven, Pa., after Brusman said he merely dropped off a paper to a friend at Carriage House Apartments. He said was parked for no more than five minutes.
“I thought because I’d only be there a minute, they would give me a break. I even parked in the farthest spot I could find because the visitor lot was full,” Brusman said.
“I got there at 11:20, finished visiting, and at 11:25 my car was being pulled out of the parking lot. I got the number and called the company immediately, but it was only after the second call that I got a hold of the tower,” he said.
Brusman said that after calling the company, he was directed to meet at the towing company’s facility, near Papa Kelsey’s Pizza place in Rexburg.
The compay said the cost of his tow, which was less than two miles, would be $80.
“When I got there, the company said [it could] take all forms of payment, but [the man] would only take cash from me. Then I had to ask him three times for a receipt, so I asked him if he was trying to evade his taxes,” Brusman said.
In particular regards to Brusman’s case, there seems to have been some hiccups in following the city ordinances dealing with towing.
Due to these kinds of concerns in the past, Rexburg City Council created ordinances to gain control of what had been spiraling out of hand.
According to Rexburg City Ordinance 911.G.i, the owner of the establishment must sign and confirm each individual by giving a “signed request for each booting or towing of a particular vehicle.”
Carriage House was unavailable for comment.
According to the ordinance, each towing vehicle must be marked with the company name, address and telephone number. No unmarked cars allowed. The All-American Towing truck was unmarked at time of the tow, which is a commonality in Rexburg where a booter in an unmarked Volkswagen Jetta has been booting cars against city ordinances.
Capt. Randy Lewis, of the Rexburg Police Department, believes the companies offer a valid service to the community, but it needs to be done right.
They provide a great service to the community, but if there’s a problem with the way the companies are doing things, we want to let them know we’ll get right on it quickly,” Lewis said.
Lewis warns students to know where they’re parking and not to encroach on someone else’s property. Students who learn the ordinances against unfair towing and booting practices can also help themselves.
“Take the matters directly to the University. If there are unwarranted practices going on with the approved housing, they should know about it. Also, contact [the police department],” Lewis said.
Ordinances are found at www.rexburg.org.
