One family in Utah has filed complaints of predatory towing in their community after a tow truck latched onto their car just seconds after parking in front of their own driveway, reported 2 KUTV. What's crazy is that the car was still running in the video.
The entire incident was caught on the family's doorbell camera. In the video, Sheila Haddock can be heard shouting, "Um, Hey! Hey! No!" That's when her boyfriend rushed out to help her.
Haddock shouted, "Hey I'm literally leaving right now!"
Haddock left the car idling while they took in their groceries and within 90 seconds, the car was hooked up and being towed away.
The couple had to pay $85 to get their car back. Haddock said, "He didn't care that we really didn't have $85 to give. He said, 'You're not getting your car back without it.'"
She said that it all felt very predatory. "I feel like he was... it was a predatory action,” Haddock said. “He drove past, he was lurking, came back around, and hooked up the car as soon as we were out of site. The car was running and we’re lucky there wasn’t a child inside the back."
Haddock's problem caught the attention of Herriman City Councilor Steve Shields. Shields said that there has definitely been an issue with the towing situation, especially in areas where there are HOA's. These areas can enforce their own rules, making it hard for changes to happen.
Shields has had preliminary conversations with state lawmakers about enacting change in the situation.