Letter: Greeneville man unhappy with paying wrecker service at show
24 days ago | 536 views | 12 12 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Editor:

I live in Greeneville where I was born and raised, and my family has always enjoyed the East Tennessee area. I’ve been coming to Gatlinburg since I was a little boy in the 1940s and usually visit the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area several times a year.

On Sept. 19, I traveled to Pigeon Forge to a large car show I believe they call the rod run. I drove into town and parked in a grassy space near Lucy’s Fireside Restaurant. I walked up the street and was only gone about 15 minutes when I turned around and headed back to my vehicle.

As I walked toward it, I saw that it was hooked to a wrecker, I asked the driver to hold up and asked what the problem was. He said that I had parked in a driveway.

I looked around and asked him where a “private/no parking” sign was posted and he pointed toward an area about 75 feet away at the restaurant with about 20 cars parked in front of it. He said it was a driveway but it was covered in grass.

He had not moved my car one foot yet, but said if I wanted it back, it would cost me $160. What could I do? I paid him the $160 and he let it down.

Looking back, I wish I had called the police. For raising my car and letting it down again in the same spot, he charged me $160. I paid him and I went home.

What has happened to us as a society? Heaven forbid a guy might give another a break for being able to catch a so-called mistake. But I don’t think it was as much of a mistake as it was an opportunity for the wrecker service to make a buck. The area should have been better posted. With the heavy traffic, and the fact that I was gone such a short time, I almost felt like he might have been watching me park my car and then walk away just in time to hook it up.

There was a time in this country when things like this didn’t happen. But it seems as if greediness has taken over common sense and any kind of compassion from strangers.

Losing $160 won’t change my life, but it sure would change some people’s, especially in this day and time. This was not right. The wrecker knows it, I know it and you know it.

I hope the owner of the wrecker service sleeps well tonight. I know I will.

Max L. Cox

Greeneville
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comments (12)
« scam wrote on Tuesday, Nov 10 at 01:30 PM »
It's called giving tickets to people who illegally park their cars. I suppose you were totally innocent like max was.
« Teresa Garner wrote on Monday, Nov 09 at 01:43 PM »
I would like to talk to you Max. The same thing happened to me last Friday. I think you would be interested in what I have learned since then.

This is a BIG Scam in Pigeon Forge and it is time to shut it down.
« Sevier County Folks wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 10:52 PM »
Thanks for your support and money. We all slept better as well!
« grass parking lot wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 06:36 PM »
First of all, Just because you do not see a sign saying you can't do something, does not mean you CAN!, and second, the fact that it was grass should have told you it was not a parking lot. AND, even if it was paved and stripped, who do you think is going to provide free parking in Pigeon Forge when you are not buying something from the lot owner? A very small highway frontage lot is worth MILLIONS, and people expect to be able to use someone elses property as long as they want. Then you get mad at the owner for having you towed. Some people really have some gaul.
« scam? ya right wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 04:55 PM »
how could anyone be so dumb as to think a business, or private homeowner does not have the right to have your vehicle removed from their property if you are parked in the grass or are not a paying customer? tourist think the cities should give them all a break because they have money to spend. And to be mad at a particular wrecker service is ignorant. They come when they are called. If someone parked in your yard you would want their vehicle removed, and you would call to have it removed at owners expense. That's exactly what those establishments in PF are doing. You people need to stop thinking the world owes you a break. You knew not to do it before hand. One silly person below thinks he should be allowed to squeal his tires on the city streets. Even if wreckers are waiting for you to leave your car parked illegally so they can tow you, what's wrong with that? Cops watch for you to do something illegal all the time. You tourist are just mad because you expect preferential treatment, but you are not special. We are here to take your money, if you don't like it, stay home!!!
« TNpanic wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 03:15 PM »
I wish you would tell what wrechker service it was so I will never use that one again.. PF has became a staple of scams like that, it may be legal but is still a scam... Everyone knows it and we just live with it because what can we do as citizens. Politics around here is so corrupt it's not even funny anymore...
« tire squealing wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 01:34 PM »
oh yeah, let them rip and screach them tires on a public highway, what could it hurt,... right??? hahaha, dear god, how stupid!
« what is wrong wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 01:31 PM »
what is wrong with people who think parking in the grass is ok? It doesn't matter who you are or how long you have been coming here, you should have enough sense to find a legitimate parking spot. I bet you don't have a sign in your driveway stating it is private and no parking,.....So don't get mad when someone parks in your yard and tells you that you did not have a sign saying they couldn't,...That kind of thinking reminds me of telemarketers who think they should have the right to call you unless you opt out.
« Jimmy Love wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 01:29 PM »


I Love Pigeon Forge more than any place around here. I live in Boone n.c. and The Towing problem and the Police on Bikes and motorcycles. Doesn't even get as BAD during An ASU Football Game... here as The Pigeon Forge Police. do at a Rod Run Over There Don't get me Wrong You all have The Most Beautiful Place's in The World.... But The Police need To LET UP A LITTLE on a Little Tire Squeling.....
« Publicola wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 01:28 PM »
States have different laws and the way things are done in one state are not necessarily done the same way in another state. In many states before a vehicle is towed, signs with specific state designated language must be posted. Without the special language, towing is stealing. The state legislatures have to be careful that stealing cars does not become legal because of the wording in the law or ordinance governing booting and towing.

Making a giant jump to a conclusion I suspect local businesses have not followed the rule. Not following the law to the letter is stealing. It will not be long before the wrong person is "booted" resulting in non-consensual towing. That individual just might have a gun and someone is going to be hurt maybe killed. Can you imagine the outcry of sympathy for the person towing or booting? I cannot. Or, the individual will go to court and put Sevier county on the map. We all know hick towns known as speed traps. Sevier County just might become known as the hick county that legalizes stealing automobiles and holding them for ransom. Legalizing extortion as another source of income.

METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE-DAVIDSON COUNTY

TRANSPORTATION LICENSING COMMISSION

Minutes of

September 25, 2007

PUBLIC HEARING: NEW WRECKER RULE – NONCONSENT TOWING FROM PRIVATE

PROPERTY

Rule 24. NONCONSENT TOWING FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY

Prior to towing a vehicle (or personal property) from private property without the vehicle (or personal property) owner’s consent, the towing company must have express written authorization for towing of that vehicle (or personal property) from the owner of the private property or designated agent. When an individual is designated by a private property owner to act as an agent to authorize towing from the property, such designation must be in writing and signed. There shall be some relationship between the private property owner and the designated agent, and there may be no relationship between the designated agent and the towing company. Contracts or written agreements between a towing company and private property owners for nonconsent towing must be retained by the towing company, and must include the property owner’s signature and the signature(s) of any agent(s) designated by the private property owner. The towing company must make these documents available for inspection by the commission or any designated representative at any time. Maximum allowable rates for nonconsent towing from private property will be as specified in Section 6.80.550(H) of the Metropolitan Code of Laws.

« anonymous wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 01:03 PM »
The town my mother grew up in and I like to consider as my hometown has turned into nothing but a money making machine that could care less about people.
« Counter Part wrote on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 07:58 AM »
There is a cure for this problem in the future....Stay in Greeneville where you were born and raised. Standing in your garage won't make you a Mercedes either!