Drivers Claim They Have to Pay Cash on the Spot to Get Car Back
A visitor to Parkchester counts out $136 as he attempts to get his car back after being towed. -Photo by David Greene
By David Greene
Bronx Voice
March 8, 2023
BRONX - Some visitors to Parkchester who apparently illegally park on what's considered "private property," are being startled by the site of their vehicles hooked up to tow trucks, with the operator allegedly demanding cash before releasing it.
On March 2, "Devin" from nearby East Tremont Avenue, could be heard hollering at the driver from Bear Transportation down the block. After he said he paid the driver $136 and was waiting for another tow truck operator to return with his vehicle, he fumed, "I was in the bank for less than five minutes." He continued, "It was nowhere near the front of that entrance... there was no reason for them to tow my car.”
Admitting he was illegally parked, Devin replied, "People hop out of their car and run back in their house really quick, it always happens and granted, you're breaking the law, but there has to be some rhyme or reason to this."
Devin added, "It's all a scam. It's all for them to just make money... and I'm pretty sure it's happened to a million other people coming through here.”
A man learns that his car was illegally parked on West Avenue in Parkchester. The driver claims he would have to pay cash before getting it back. -Photo by David Greene
Moments after another car was un-hooked from a tow truck near the post office on West Avenue, that driver abruptly left the scene after paying, when Parkchester resident "Eddie," offered a bit of advice, "If you park on top of these lines, they'll come by and snatch your shit and pick it up until you pay.”
Eddie then claimed, "I've seen them charge $185 from one person, $235 from another person, you know it's their own price." Eddie continued, "The Haitian guy they charged him $235, now the brother they charged him $185, so why are they different?" Eddie added, "They're out to make money.”
On February 24, "Adgaratou" a female resident from Parkchester who, like Devin had ironically illegally parked outside the bank only to have to go back to the bank to withdraw more cash to allegedly pay the tow truck driver. Adgaratou said she was also charged $136. She recalled, "When I came out, they took my car. I asked him to help me, and he told me I have to pay... I had to pay cash.”
Adgaratou was not issued a summons, but did receive a receipt, she added, "No, I didn't like that." Asked how the man's demeanor was, she replied, "No! No, he was not nice, he's not nice.”
On March 3, the Bronx Voice contacted New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, who stated, "It's possible" for the city and a private contractor to patrol the same area." He continued, "It's possible that both agencies have oversight, but the corporation itself, the private condominiums, have the ability to hire private tow on the spaces they control.”
On February 17, a Traffic Enforcement Agent who works for the city and knew of the situation, when he stated, "Yes, the housing complex people, they do that... They don't issue the ticket, but they tow it. No standing, no parking, they're looking for that all the time." The agent who did not want to provide his name added, "People come to us and we say it's not our business. This is the condominium people, their office is 2000 East Tremont Avenue. You can go there.”
Repeated attempts to reach Parkchester South Condominium were unsuccessful.
On March 6, Public Safety officer Valentine of the Parkchester North Condominium stated, "There is a drop fee, that's just the rules and regulations of their establishment. There's a drop fee on property, off property it goes to the yard. The drop fee is $60-something I believe. If it goes to the yard, it's a hundred-and-something.”
Officer Valentine was then told about New York Attorney General Letitia James who had filed a case in June against a tow truck company in Poughkeepsie, NY., charging the business with "predatory" business practices, and some visitors to Parkchester are making the same accusations. Officer Valentine replied, "They've got that right to file claims, you know that's up to them and that goes along with that company. We have nothing to do with that company.”
After repeated attempts to contact someone at Bear Transportation, located on Colgate Avenue, an unidentified male answering the telephone on March 6, was told about complaints made about the company, when he responded, "All right, I'm getting a lot of complaints about you too. You harass us. You harass people."
When told a photograph was taken for a news story, the man replied, "Are you like a drive around rat? You just go in and follow people and mess things up and don't mind your business?”
When asked if he was the owner, the man replied, "You don't have to worry about who I am. You’re not on my side. Do you even know about the tow business? All right, so do your investigation on that, find out what we do and then call us back. Because you know nothing about towing and how it works and the stuff we go through. All right, so figure that out and do a better investigation.”
The Bronx Voice has reached out to Councilwoman Amanda Farias (D-18) to see if her office has received any complaints regarding Bear Transportation as well as the Office of the Attorney General.
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