If you read the general internet it’s all mobbed up guys stealing cars from law-abiding single mothers for no reason at all but then again if I believed the general public about parking violation enforcement here in germany I’d come to the conclusion they’re the new jews.
So how bad is that whole privatized towing / enforcement thing, really? Is there an actual problem beyond “it’s a private company” or is it mostly carbrain tears?
Many moons ago, I lived in a gated apartment. It’s a relatively safe complex so I usually park my car away from my actual apartment.
One night I made an honest mistake and forgot to check if my parking permit was visible. Well, they impounded my car.
I didn’t know until five days later because I didn’t really drive my car I’d rather bike or bus to work (and I didn’t check my car because I thought it was safe)
I was never properly notified by the city or by the building manager my car was impounded (legally required in CA btw). I found out the hard way oddly enough, one night when I was walking to my car to do a weed and grocery run.
…lol I’m still in crippling debt from the loan I had to pull to get my car out of the lot.
Bonus points is that I finally got a letter from the city two months later saying my car was impounded, After i got my car back and paid the massive fees.