Beach's July Fourth towing fest lights a fuse with locals

I grew up in Va Beach and now live in NC. There has been some negative talk about Myrtle Beach b/c they honed in on taking tourism $$ from Va Beach. Let me give you this example--we were in Myrtle Beach last year. We drove to the beach, pulled off the main drag. Went a few blocks down to the road the had the hotels that were on the ocean. There was a free parking lot. We parked, crossed the road and were on the beach. I took some friends to the North End last year too. Nightmare parking..Took us over an hour to find a spot. There's just no comparison. Va Beach must become more friendly to beach visitors. It shouldn't matter if you are a local or not. Tax dollars or hotel dollars. When I lived in Va Beach we never went to the tourist area. We stayed at Sandbridge and Croatan. Usually because we knew someone who lived there and let us park on their grass. I never take my kids to Va Beach (w/ the exception of the one trip to the North End) Its OBX all the way for us. It takes the same amount of time and we find parking. My husband and I ( we are both from Va Beach) are always amazed at how easy it is to park at OBX. Those of you whao are opposed to it, Give it a try!

There are signs posted advising people how to receive a "Do Not Tow" sticker from a policeman if they feel they are too inebriated to drive home. The fact remains that most people are too lazy to do it, or too cheap to pay for a taxi ride home. If the city didn't have these cars towed, half the parking lot would be full of cars remaining left over from the night before, taking up valuable parking spaces and funds from people who would like to use the beach and oceanfront in the daytime.

Not everything that happens in this city is the city's fault.

An important issue to note is that legally parked cars in municipal lots (whose owners paid a fee to park there) are being towed at 2:30 am. This makes a lot of people drink and drive when they would otherwise take a cab and get their cars in the morning. I even saw a car being towed from the parking lot of 501 City Grill on Birdneck Rd. at 7:30 am. The majority of the lot was empty at the time. This is contrary to public policy and the whole thing stinks of kickbacks from the tow companies to, oh I don't know, City Counsel who passed such an ordinance???. What's the deal?

"If it was illegal, surely a good lawyer would have won some settlement against the tow companies already to stop it. Surely there have been more than enough law suits in the long time this towing problem has existed. "

So much would the fees for representation set the young sailor back?

To the man whose baby was in the car. If your kid is in the car and you do not notice a wrecker pulling up to it, I think your anger should be directed inwards. In addition, your exs condo association would likely be the ones angry if the tow trucks were not vigiliant. You cannot admit to illegal parking become angry when it is enforced.

Here is a secret for you all. it is a bit of a walk, but the parking enforcements end at Parks Ave. That is 7 blocks from the ocean.

C.B. - If it was illegal, surely a good lawyer would have won some settlement against the tow companies already to stop it. Surely there have been more than enough law suits in the long time this towing problem has existed.

Ethan - Brilliant plan, guy. Risking countless number of lives just because you were careless enough to park in a private lot or where it is marked no parking and got your car towed. Thank God you're here.

Legally, ALL curb side parking is public property and available to whomever wants to park there unless they are blocking a fire hydrant or driveway. It is ALL taxpayer funded public domain and no one has the right to deny anyone the right to use it. This is BS and the towing companies know it but the city council enables them to "illegally" tow vehicles. It is no wonder why locals know that the oceanfront that they pay for is not theirs to use. That pathetic campaign to convince locals that they are suddenly welcome is nothing short of pathetic. I refuse to go to that hell hole and take my business to cherrystone or OBX like another poster said. A "change" in city council is all the change we need. Let's make it happen in force!!!

About the active duty service member's car being towed while on deployment- There have been all kinds of news stories about this just recently. This is an illegal practice.

I've tried to come up with ideas for solutions to thwart tow trucks from towing vehicles. The only thing I can think of might carry some liability issues, but hopefully it would be transferred to the towing company. One system would cause a vehicle to come on, go into drive, and accelerate while on the tow vehicle, causing an uncontrolled situation. Then the tow truck company could be liable for towing a car with an anti-towing system. The other idea is to get a junker, set it up with radio control or computer control, let them tow it, then let the car go on a demolition derby in their lot. That would be a great youtube video. I absolutely hate tow truck companies, outside of AAA and true "rescue" services.

The city sets the maximum impound fee. Instead of raising it at the request of the tow truck companies, how about setting it a level that allows the tow truck owners to make a profit but not get rich? (maybe $50/day, $250/max)

here's the thing - if you ticket a car for illegal parking, then a tow truck takes it, another car parks there, the tow truck takes it, etc, etc. Tow truck driver makes a bundle on one holiday evening monitoring one block. BUT, if you ticket a car for illegal parking, and a tow truck DOESN'T take it, only one person gets a ticket and it keeps multiple people from having to pay.

Ticket, but don't tow except in certain circumstances (like fire lanes, handicapped, etc.).

jmo

I had my one year old son in a car seat. I pulled into my ex-wife's Condo parking lot in VB and parked the car in front of her door, but not in a space. There was not more than ten feet between my car and where I stood. I had a bag of clothes I had bought for the two boys that were a product of the first marriage. Within the two minute time frame that she and I spoke on her front porch, she said "I think that tow truck is going to take your car!" The truck was one of those that could automatically slide up under the wheels and lift the car and take it in seconds. I turned and jumped on my car and had to yell four times that there was a baby in the car. The guy stopped and looked in the car and saw my son. He said he would let me go this time. It took every ounce of restraint I had not to kick his ___!

Someone I know was out on deployment with the Navy. His vehicle was at the apartment building where he lived, and he had notified the landlords (Cavalier Land) that he was on a deployment, as he paid in advance. His vehicle had parking pass, but the registration sticker on the vehicle ran out. The landlord puts a notice on his door while he is gone car will be towed if that is not corrected in 5 to 7 days. Guy comes back from deployment, and his car was towed by Affordable Towing. He went to Cavalier Land and they wouldn't help him. Towing company wanted some $2500-3000 to get vehicle back, and it had only been a week I believe. When he said he was walking from it, the towing company had the gall to ask for the title!

"Let's take the busiest weekend of the year and ban all parking"

As a long-time citizen of Norfolk I continue to watch the Virginia Beach city council's actions with horror and amazement. What a bunch of foolish clowns.

Towing for reasons good for the betterment of all is one thing. But the cash crazy tow trucks are ripping them out with ill-intentions due to greed. Especially in areas where it's hard to discern whether or not you stand any chance of being towed at all. High gas prices keep folks from visitng, harrassing events like this drive them away with a really bad taste in their mouths and not so good things to say to their friends when they retun home about our resort...Lighten up VB.

While I feel for those who had to get their cars out of impound, it boils down to paying attention! At the south end there are signs about every ten feet that state quite plainly that parking is a no-no unless you have a sticker. Most parking lots also have rather large signs stating the towing penalties. Anyone with common sense should know better. Also to the courthouse parking person...there again are several signs telling you that parking at the shopping center is for patrons only. So maybe if we all learn to not be so self absorbed and actually paid attention to our surrounding the world might just be a little nicer.

Makes me wish the Labor Day half-marathon wasn't so soon. As a local, I get a hotel @ the beach simply because it's crazy to drive down there to get the race packet, then run the half-marathon, then find my car and drive back home without passing out. Kind of hard when you're a little worn out. So, this will be our 2nd year but with all these comments and this story, I am not looking forward to the traffic, no places to eat anywhere decent due to all the people, and all the congestion. Thankfully our hotel offers parking, but you better get there early and not move your car afterwards. That's what I do. Park at the hotel and walk everywhere so I don't lose my spot. Kind of sad. My husband comes home for R&R after being deployed next week and as much as we'd like to be in our own area and putting money into this economy, we will be heading to Cherrystone or OBX instead. Sad.. but really who wants to fight this many crowds and traffic or see our car towed for parking "illegally".

City Of Virginia Beach, CEASE ALL residential sticker-controlled parking along public streetside city easements in the South End to allow citizens to park freely, exactly as you have recently mandated to the residents of the North End. Announce your intent this Tuesday and vote it OUT this Thursday in the same manner that the old City Council voted for it in 1994. FREEDOM Baby!!

Face the facts. You're welcome at the beach if you're paying for a hotel room. Everyone else is considered a nuisance and treated as such.

The suggestion for HRT to expand its service hours of the MAX 960 Route (Norfolk-VB) is well taken. Initially, plans were prepared for buses to operate @5:15A-9:15P weekdays [all-year]. Depending upon the season, Sat-Sun service would have ended later; e.g. @2:30A (Sat/Summer) and @11:30P (Sun/Summer). This said, presently, during the summer months, a bus [either 960 Route or 20X Route] should be scheduled to depart 19th/Pacific around 12:30A weekdays, and a bit later weekends. Looking ahead, for 4th of July, 2009, VB officials should consider use of Silverleaf P&R [free parking], with shuttle buses to/from the Oceanfront via I-264, at the normal [non-MAX] fare rate[s].

Yep, did the marathon on the fourth. Nothing like wading through traffic to drop everyone off at Pacific, grabbing a parking space at the center, then doing a forced march back to the Oceanfront. And repeat the trip in reverse after the fireworks. Those 4 wheel pedal bike companies could have made a mint providing rides on the closed 19th street.

"He and some other residents intend to discuss ways to reduce the number of illegally parked vehicles towed, at least on holidays, to be more accommodating to visitors, he said."

Apparently this man is new to the oceanfront. Should I tell him that it was his civic league that not only pushed for the parking restrictions, but actually designed them? Yep, I should. The civic leagues pushed for the sticker program, not the city. The city complied w/ their request and design. You may find your suggestion to your neighbors kicking you in the rear.

WE DID! We moved to TN where it is absolutely beautiful, no more fear from hurricanes, no lines, no waiting anywhere, no traffic congestion...NO PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, NO CAR TAXES...Register your car $12...over there $70 and talk of increasing it! Everyone over here talks about going to the Shore or Beach, they are talking about Myrtle Beach not VA Beach...I've told everyone I talk to why I moved and don't even bother to visit VA Beach....the towing issues, the traffic, the jet noise is horrendous, the TAXES are astounding over there. VA Beach preys on the tourists and worse yet, they prey on their own citizens. It's all about taking your money. Good luck people, because your government couldn't care less about you, your ideas or your complaints. What you are good for is the almighty dollar.

I think we all agree... Va Beach stinks. Parking is difficult (legally or illegally), so why bother going there. I've lived here for 25 years, and I've spent about 2 days at Va Beach in that time. I'd rather drive to Nags Head for a real "day at the beach".

I'm a native of this area. Back in my teen years we avoided VAB and spent our time at Sandbridge, as it was less congestive and visitor friendly. Now we avoid VAB and Sandbridge. WE made many visits each year to the OBX until this year due to the beach closing issue. VAB turned into a beach for northerners years ago. It was never much of a beach to start out with and never friendly. Issues like ticketing people for letting ice cream drip on the sidewalk to not allowing coolers or drinks on the beach stopped most locals from going there long ago. There were some nice night clubs there, but they weren't worth the hassles of dealing with the problems that were caused by the city itself. Nags Head and Buxton were always more friendly and the city officials seemed to have a tourist town state of mind. This year we've made two trips to Myrtle Beach and will make at least one more before the end of the season. They k

Parking at the beach is an expensive joke, and the city makes too much money on towed cars to remedy the situation. Hey, HRT, how about helping us out? You've got those spiffy new Max buses that go from downtown Norfolk to Town Center to the oceanfront; why not extend the hours so people who want to take in the beach night life can park elsewhere and not worry about whether their cars will still be there after last call? It would be a public service, really - you'd be keeping people from driving drunk and saving them tons of money on parking, cabs and towing fees. Just a friendly suggestion.

I lived @ The OceanFront back in mid '80s and NOTHING has changed ! VB is sooooo fixated on the Tourist $ that they are BLIND to the REAL Problems facing the City.

Myself? I havent been to The Strip in 20+ YEARS ! Why? Have to drive around half the day to find a place to park ? No thanks. I go to Sandbridge(and HOPE it doesnt RAIN so the roads FLOOD).

The VB City Council is the epitome of self-interest. How many MILLIONS have Council Members MADE off the un-suspecting public? Buy and then re-zone.

I guess that money they paid to advertise and try and get the local residents to come back to the beach was financed by getting cars towed. I can't wait to get back to the beach.

VB might have a top-10 "board"walk, but the rest of the Oceanfront is a tacky log jam.

My car was towed from Harris Teeter across from the courthouse Thursday. No clearly visible signs not to park there, yet the towing guy was apparently sitting in his car writing down license plate number. Mysteriously the parking lot is very poorly marked. Also after the two parking lots in front of the General District Courthouse are full, the city has no signs that direct people to the overflow parking lot in the back of the courthouse. Add to that the fact that yesterday access to the overflow parking was blocked by orange cones in front of the Sheriff's office that no one could explain to me. Blocked! Could someone in the city government be making a percentage from these towing situations? Personally I have no doubt.

The sad thing is the people being towed are working people, pregnant women, servicemen and people who obviously can't afford the extra $125. I have made a vow to stand in the Har

This has always been an issue. I remember the Boathouse had an area where there was a fence, and people would unknowingly park there, and the property was really Norfolk Southerns and the tow truck companies would yank every car. Sure there was a sign SOMEWHERE on the fence, but it is difficult to see. I got my car towed once, even though it was parked where I was allowed to park. In the end, I think it makes the businesses look bad. I was actually thinking about getting the home addresses of all the owners of all the local towing companies that patrol lots, and publishing it on the internet in case someone who was towed wanted to go speak to the owners of the businesses in person. Unless you've had to deal with them, you have no idea how ghetto and scummy these companies are, the same ones who places like Pembroke Mall contract to.

Years ago before there were big ugly motels, there were quaint little, expensive, but nice family owned places.
There wern't any McDonalds etc. There were expensive places and if you wanted to eat - You paid a lot.

Towing/parking is a racket.

The beach front has always been designed to make money from suckers.
Things change, but the game is the same.