Lyons Wrecker Service

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/12/21) */

Lyon Wrecker Service LLC was contacted by the Marshall County Sheriff Department to impound the car belonging to [redacted] on US 31 in Lapaz on Saturday Dec.5. My understanding is that Mr. [redacted] was driving erratically and was pulled over...

by the officer. The officer determined that he was very confused and had some -type of medical condition and should not have been driving the vehicle. The officer called for an ambulance for the gentleman and contacted its to impound the vehicle_ This all took place around 5 or 6 PM. The ABANDONED/IMPOUNDED "VEHICLE REPORT prepared by the Marshall County Sheriff Office authorized us
to impound the car. A copy of report is enclosed It is the normal procedure by the police departments to contact a tow company to remove vehicles, whether vehicles are involved in accidents, driver is arrested for traffic violation, DUI or some other reason so that vehicles are not left along the side of the road to cause a traffic hazard. We towed vehicle to our impound yard.
We are on. call 24 hours a day to pickup and tow vehicles to our yard or to wherever customer wants vehicle towed. All vehicles impounded by one of the police departments are generally towed to our impound lot, which is fenced in to provide security for the vehicles. This is necessary to be sure nothing is tampered with, stoleri or damaged while on our lot. Often vehicles impounded by the police belong to people who have been arrested for drugs or other
crimes. Because of safety concerns for myself and others, we do not release vehicles after dark when there is no one in the office. Neither myself, employees or customers would feel comfortable 'walking around in the dark with a lot full of eats. .Generally, we do not release cars on Sundays because there is no one at the shop on Sundays either. In the past, we have had items stolen from our building by those wailing for the person who is galling their car out of impound. So it requires at least two people at the shop to release vehicles. In this type of business. you have to deal with all kinds of people and for that reason, SAFETY for all is very important,
Mr_ [redacted]'s daughter called at about 2 or 3 AM on Sunday morning to get her father's car released_ I was at home sleeping. I explained the policy for releasing vehicles. She became quite irate and was foul mouthed with her anger. She was mad and said I had no right to have impounded the car, I, in return, may have become short with her. She called several times on Sunday and I told her she would have to pick it up on Monday and I told her the hours someone would be at yard. I told her, as I tell all customers, that in order for me to release the vehicle, 1: would need proof of ownership, or authorization to pick up vehicle, and driver's license. And the bill, $150 for towing and $25 per day for storage, would have to be paid with cash. Because of past experience, we do not accept checks, debit or credit cards for vehicles being released from the impound lot This is common practice for towing companies. Checks can be cancelled and charges to credit cards rejected. We have a towing fee of $150 and a mileage charge if we go outside of a certain area. Indiana suggests between $150 to $200 towing. We have a $25 per day storage fee, which is on the low end .of the rates suggested by the state ($25 to $75 per day). Rates and paperwork requirements were explained to the daughter along with the fact we only accept cash payments for impounds.

On Monday afternoon about 4:30 PM the daughter and her husband, came to pick up the vehicle. Her language and attitude left much to be desired. She was told the amount of the bill and told my wife she wanted to pay with the debit card. My wife, Jayme, again explained it would have to be cash and told her where an ATM was down the street. She also did not have the correct paperwork for proofed ownership or power of attorney for her father or an ID or license. The daughter became belligerent and cussed my wife out, she also cussed out the man who Was in the shop who wasn't even involved with any of this. There were several people in the shop who witnessed the exchange. The daughter and her husband left and did not return that day.
They returned on Tuesday afternoon close to 5PM with what was needed to pick up vehicle. This time the daughter's husband talked to me. He started out with a bad attitude and by now. I am getting fed tip with these people. I told him the amount of the bill $1.50 for the tow and $100 in storage fees= total of $210. I told him it needed to be cash payment. he said all he had was $150 cash. I told him the vehicle cannot be picked up until bill is paid in full.(our policy is we do not release vehicles until hill is paid in full. Otherwise I would never see them again) He argued about it but eventually pulled out the $2.50 in cash. We went to the back lot to get the vehicle. The vehicle had a flat tire. The probably had a slow leak- As noted by the officer on the ABANDONEDWFOUNDED VEHICLE REPORT, the vehicle was in poor condition. filled the tire with air for him and they left. Later that day, they called back and accused rue of slashing all the tires on the car.
From Sunday AM till they picked up vehicle on Tuesday afternoon, these people called me at least, 7 different times and were belligerent every single time they called. Their behavior in the office, as witnessed by several people, was way out of line, And when people come in with such an accusatory attitude, it is impossible to be nice to them. And sorry to say, we deal with all kinds of people with all kinds of bad attitudes. We have policies we follow and can not make exceptions. Those who pick up vehicles have to have valid ID's and proof of ownership of vehicle, or some type of legal paperwork giving them authority to pick up vehicle.
We were not trying to rip Mr. [redacted] off The charge for the tow and the storage fee would be the same for anyone whose vehicle was towed. And in reality, the rates we charge are on the low end of the recommended rates. If the officer had called a different ton, company, the bill could have been even higher. And we do have 3 dogs which are often around the office and the shop. These dogs are very well behaved and friendly to everyone who comes in and no one complains about them. We feel their presence helps to deter anyone from becoming overly aggressive.
Raymond (PeeWee) [redacted] Owner, Lyon Wrecker Service LLC