What is stopping tow companies from towing legally parked cars for profit?

They see a car, know the owner has money, so they tow it and say it was "Illegally" parked.What is stopping tow companies from towing legally parked cars for profit?
There are laws.



In the State of WA the Washington State Patrol regulates the towing industry. Only tow truck companies approved by WSP can engage in police contract tows which would include towing illegally parked cars. The WSP also regulates the fees that towing companies can charge.



If the illegally parked car is on private property such as an apartment complex, then any tow truck can tow the car regardless if they been approved by WSP. The legal responsibility would fall to whoever signed the authorization.



The WSP can inspect any towing company, regardless if they are on police contract or not, for violations. As a towing owner you must provide proof for every car that you towed that you had legal authorization to do so. The law requires log books to be kept by drivers and dispatchers and all information must match. Violations are very steep.



WSP is very thorough and catches violators regularly. Violators don't last long in this state as they are quickly shut down.



I would assume that every state governs towing in a similar fashion as mine. Do a search for your states towing laws. Should also show the rates that towing companies are allowed to charge as well.
These towing companies gain the right to tow cars after the city or county grants them that contract.



If the tow company is corrupt and tows cars parked legally, enough complaints will roll in that the politicians will cancel the contract for not abiding by the terms, and award the contract to a competitor.What is stopping tow companies from towing legally parked cars for profit?
there are laws against that in most major cities BECAUSE that was happening...



in my city, they must provide you with photographic evidence that shows you parked illegally, they must notify the police that they took the car etc..



also, there are cops around here that specifically target tow trucks.



if they get caught, they get in HUGE trouble.. pretty much lose their business, end up in jail and all sorts of crap....



but... yeah.... it does happen, and there are laws against it to help curb it.. otherwise it would be a free for all... you would ONLY see tow trucks on the road... no cars
The possibility of getting caught. There are cameras and witnesses, and the possiblity the owner will show up soon. If caught, they would not be able to work again. TOw truck owners are getting rich now, so they don't need to tow cars illegally. The repo business is keeping them busyWhat is stopping tow companies from towing legally parked cars for profit?
All towing companies are licensed by the state and in the city they operate in



If they did this they would be out of business with the first complaint and it would not be worth it to them to lose future revenue for a couple fast illegal dollars
A lawsuit. If they tow a car, and cannot prove that it was illegally parked, then they can be sued.
The fact that they'd be civilly liable and could be prosecuted criminally for auto theft I imagine.
this is called "auto-theft" %26amp; that's why we have a police department
It is called grand theft auto.