Who the hell is responsible for the system in place if your car gets towed in Halifax? Sure I made a mistake (my bad) and got confused reading all five signs on the post before parking (do I read them down up or up down?) and came back to find my car gone. Since there was no car to put any card or message on I went to the gas station nearby and was told who would have towed it. Called their office and asked if my car was there—yes it was but you better get here soon as we close in 45 minutes. Since they are located out of town (that’s just mean) I asked if any buses go there, NO THEY DO NOT! Raced out there with cash (around $155 with tax) only to find out that you have to go to the main police station FIRST to get your car released. Would have been nice if I had been told that when I called. So back to the police station (tow company was friendly otherwise and made sure to tell me to take my insurance and registration out of the car as it would be needed to get the car released). Spent 30 minutes at the police station while they did the paperwork and then back to tow lot to pay and get my car released. If I had been a tourist or not been able to find friends to drive me back and forth I would have been stranded and/or had to rack up taxi costs equal or greater to the towing costs. It’s a horrible system that seems to only benefit the towers and the taxi drivers (although the city did have a $25 ticket on the car when I finally got it out). Is there no way to make the system streamlined and not make it a horrendous ordeal? Word to the wise if your car is towed call the police to check it out and hope to God you have friends with a car who can drop everything and help you out! Hopefully no tourist has to deal with this or they will go postal! —Salty Fry
This article appears in Mar 24-30, 2011.
Well thanks for the advice if i ever get my car towed. I don’t think they chose the location to benefit the cab company.
That exact same thing happened to my friend and I… two weeks ago? Except she actually spoke to a police officer in person who told her she had the proper papers. So we go to the towing place but, no, we needed another paper. No, they can’t fax it over, it needs to be in person. No, the officer can’t come down there and do it either. So 3 hours and 3 cab rides later…. I really think they should either 1. actually make sure the officers/ people on the phone know what you need to get your car back or 2. start paying the cab bills incurred because of thier fck ups
Almost makes you wish there was a time bomb in the trunk ‘Eh.
tickets and towing isn’t sposed to be fun for the person who’s car got removed. if it was in a clearly marked tow away zone, you have to take your licks. sorry, but that’s a life lesson too learn.
if it is a disputed area, pay ticket, then get lawyer to fight back. other than that, you are left to your own devices to learn where, and where not to park.
Sounds like a stupid fucking system, soooo it’s perfect for Halifax! Seriously, who the fuck designed this? You have to get your car released by the police but to get your car released you need your car registration, which for most people is in your car… Good to know, thanks OP!
I always laughed at Parking Wars for the way people got yanked around, but at least when you got your ass to the impound lot, you could get the car released there and pay whatever you owed in tickets, no need to cab around.
$155…..and tip? OP, read the signs more clearly….some in HRM are tricky. Of course, certain residents of HRM’s lesser areas may have difficulty in reading the signs and would likely stand there talking to the light pole waiting for a response.
Guess I’ve been fortunate (relatively speaking). I’ve been towed about 6 times is 25 years, it’s always been to that place in the south end. All that I’ve ever had to do was prove ownership, and pay the towing/storage fees. The staff was always friendly & polite, last time they even gave me a small break on the cost because of an error they made.
Well never forget your bank card when filling up gas either. I forgot my bank card last week and the stupid cow working the counter held me hostage lol Told me I could leave. I asked if I left my purse, ipod, phone, wallet etc…if I could run home (5min max) she just said flat out NO. I had to get my mother to come in from Peggy’s Cove (40min drive) and give me the money. My ipod alone was worth more then the gas. Plus she had the make of my car, plate#, id. Anyway lesson learned…but an fyi for everyone the girl is a cow with no customer service.
Of an this young and robie gas station will never receive my business again.
Very shitty deal, BUT, could you not find a parking lot, meter or have taken a cab in the first place? Halifax is pretty srewed up when it comes to parking but I see people everyday from the front doors of my work parking in zones that, mind you are poorly labeled, getting ticketed or towed bc they are too lazy or too cheap to pay for a parking lot. I have no sympathy for you, if it is hard to figure out if you can park in a certain spot, it probably means you cant.