Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 14:42     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


I live on a city block where parking is really tough. This area is behind the sidewalk between two townhouses (one of them being mine) and might therefore seem private. According to the DC zoning map the part of it next to my house is not part of any lot. The other half belongs to the other townhouse. However, the person claiming it is theirs does not own or live in either of these two houses. They have just been parking there for years. Yesterday, we left the car there after coming from a long weekend and needing to offload the car and found an anonymous extremely rude threatening note on our windshield asking us to immediately move the car. I am just wondering how credible this threat is.


Do you think he's paying rent on the spot to the other house? Talk to your neighbors and see what they know.


I think the guy who parks there is actually renting the spot but I am not sure from whom. I am not even sure he is aware it is public space.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 14:40     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


I live on a city block where parking is really tough. This area is behind the sidewalk between two townhouses (one of them being mine) and might therefore seem private. According to the DC zoning map the part of it next to my house is not part of any lot. The other half belongs to the other townhouse. However, the person claiming it is theirs does not own or live in either of these two houses. They have just been parking there for years. Yesterday, we left the car there after coming from a long weekend and needing to offload the car and found an anonymous extremely rude threatening note on our windshield asking us to immediately move the car. I am just wondering how credible this threat is.


It's not a credible threat. Weird that some random dude is parking his car between two houses that he doesn't live in!

Install a fold-down parking bollard in the spot: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-7171/Safety-Guards-Barriers/Fold-Down-Safety-Bollard-45-x-36?pricode=WB6672&gadtype=pla&id=H-7171&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn9HsoM26hAMVlElHAR2jRwt8EAQYASABEgLIh_D_BwE

If you use the space long enough (15 years), eventually you qualify for adverse possession in DC: https://www.findlaw.com/state/dc-law/district-of-columbia-adverse-possession-laws.html



NP
Maye that's what the guy who is claiming it's "their spot" has done?


They might be trying to do it, but as I explained above the area in question is actually public so the adverse possession laws should not apply.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 14:40     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


I live on a city block where parking is really tough. This area is behind the sidewalk between two townhouses (one of them being mine) and might therefore seem private. According to the DC zoning map the part of it next to my house is not part of any lot. The other half belongs to the other townhouse. However, the person claiming it is theirs does not own or live in either of these two houses. They have just been parking there for years. Yesterday, we left the car there after coming from a long weekend and needing to offload the car and found an anonymous extremely rude threatening note on our windshield asking us to immediately move the car. I am just wondering how credible this threat is.


It's not a credible threat. Weird that some random dude is parking his car between two houses that he doesn't live in!

Install a fold-down parking bollard in the spot: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-7171/Safety-Guards-Barriers/Fold-Down-Safety-Bollard-45-x-36?pricode=WB6672&gadtype=pla&id=H-7171&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn9HsoM26hAMVlElHAR2jRwt8EAQYASABEgLIh_D_BwE

If you use the space long enough (15 years), eventually you qualify for adverse possession in DC: https://www.findlaw.com/state/dc-law/district-of-columbia-adverse-possession-laws.html



NP
Maye that's what the guy who is claiming it's "their spot" has done?


He doesn't qualify for adverse possession until after 15 years of documented use and then he files a claim with the city to get it platted in his name and starts paying property taxes. OP already stated that the land is not owned by anyone, which I am sure OP discovered by looking at DC's property database. It's probably city property.

OP - the plat lines in the online tools offered by DC are not exact. I actually doubt your neighbor's house "owns" half the parcel; that is just likely an inaccuracy of DC's online property tools. I'd definitely pay a surveyor to survey the parcel + your property lines. A surveyor can confirm if your neighbor does indeed "own" half of the empty parcel.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 14:39     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


I live on a city block where parking is really tough. This area is behind the sidewalk between two townhouses (one of them being mine) and might therefore seem private. According to the DC zoning map the part of it next to my house is not part of any lot. The other half belongs to the other townhouse. However, the person claiming it is theirs does not own or live in either of these two houses. They have just been parking there for years. Yesterday, we left the car there after coming from a long weekend and needing to offload the car and found an anonymous extremely rude threatening note on our windshield asking us to immediately move the car. I am just wondering how credible this threat is.


It's not a credible threat. Weird that some random dude is parking his car between two houses that he doesn't live in!

Install a fold-down parking bollard in the spot: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-7171/Safety-Guards-Barriers/Fold-Down-Safety-Bollard-45-x-36?pricode=WB6672&gadtype=pla&id=H-7171&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn9HsoM26hAMVlElHAR2jRwt8EAQYASABEgLIh_D_BwE

If you use the space long enough (15 years), eventually you qualify for adverse possession in DC: https://www.findlaw.com/state/dc-law/district-of-columbia-adverse-possession-laws.html



I spoke to the DC surveyor office and they confirmed this is public space. It used to be a public alley which does not exist anymore, just this area between the two houses remained. Half of it is public and the other half belongs to the townhouse on the other side. I don’t think you can gain adverse possession to public property.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 14:38     Subject: Towing from private property DC
My experience was that I needed to call 911 and get the car ticketed by MPD before the tow truck would tow a car on my property. That allows the car owner to figure out where their car went and keeps it from being considered stolen. The police and tow truck came pretty quickly once called! I was actually surprised they didn't ask for any proof that I owned the parking space...
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 14:28     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


I live on a city block where parking is really tough. This area is behind the sidewalk between two townhouses (one of them being mine) and might therefore seem private. According to the DC zoning map the part of it next to my house is not part of any lot. The other half belongs to the other townhouse. However, the person claiming it is theirs does not own or live in either of these two houses. They have just been parking there for years. Yesterday, we left the car there after coming from a long weekend and needing to offload the car and found an anonymous extremely rude threatening note on our windshield asking us to immediately move the car. I am just wondering how credible this threat is.


It's not a credible threat. Weird that some random dude is parking his car between two houses that he doesn't live in!

Install a fold-down parking bollard in the spot: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-7171/Safety-Guards-Barriers/Fold-Down-Safety-Bollard-45-x-36?pricode=WB6672&gadtype=pla&id=H-7171&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn9HsoM26hAMVlElHAR2jRwt8EAQYASABEgLIh_D_BwE

If you use the space long enough (15 years), eventually you qualify for adverse possession in DC: https://www.findlaw.com/state/dc-law/district-of-columbia-adverse-possession-laws.html



NP
Maye that's what the guy who is claiming it's "their spot" has done?
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 14:07     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


I live on a city block where parking is really tough. This area is behind the sidewalk between two townhouses (one of them being mine) and might therefore seem private. According to the DC zoning map the part of it next to my house is not part of any lot. The other half belongs to the other townhouse. However, the person claiming it is theirs does not own or live in either of these two houses. They have just been parking there for years. Yesterday, we left the car there after coming from a long weekend and needing to offload the car and found an anonymous extremely rude threatening note on our windshield asking us to immediately move the car. I am just wondering how credible this threat is.


Do you think he's paying rent on the spot to the other house? Talk to your neighbors and see what they know.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 14:04     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


I live on a city block where parking is really tough. This area is behind the sidewalk between two townhouses (one of them being mine) and might therefore seem private. According to the DC zoning map the part of it next to my house is not part of any lot. The other half belongs to the other townhouse. However, the person claiming it is theirs does not own or live in either of these two houses. They have just been parking there for years. Yesterday, we left the car there after coming from a long weekend and needing to offload the car and found an anonymous extremely rude threatening note on our windshield asking us to immediately move the car. I am just wondering how credible this threat is.


It's not a credible threat. Weird that some random dude is parking his car between two houses that he doesn't live in!

Install a fold-down parking bollard in the spot: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-7171/Safety-Guards-Barriers/Fold-Down-Safety-Bollard-45-x-36?pricode=WB6672&gadtype=pla&id=H-7171&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn9HsoM26hAMVlElHAR2jRwt8EAQYASABEgLIh_D_BwE

If you use the space long enough (15 years), eventually you qualify for adverse possession in DC: https://www.findlaw.com/state/dc-law/district-of-columbia-adverse-possession-laws.html

Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 09:59     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


I live on a city block where parking is really tough. This area is behind the sidewalk between two townhouses (one of them being mine) and might therefore seem private. According to the DC zoning map the part of it next to my house is not part of any lot. The other half belongs to the other townhouse. However, the person claiming it is theirs does not own or live in either of these two houses. They have just been parking there for years. Yesterday, we left the car there after coming from a long weekend and needing to offload the car and found an anonymous extremely rude threatening note on our windshield asking us to immediately move the car. I am just wondering how credible this threat is.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 09:49     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?


+1
This is how people get shot. Leave the crazies alone.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 09:44     Subject: Towing from private property DC
The towing company won’t tow your car if you’re parked legally in a public space.

But if there’s any doubt just move your car, why fight with what sounds like it might be a crazy person?
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 09:42     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you own the property or manage the property you can just get it towed yourself.
Police don’t ticket on private property.


Thanks. There is a $250 fine listed on the DC website for parking on private property though. Also, do I need to prove ownership of the area where the car is parked when the car is being towed? I am actually on the other end of this threat. I parked in what according to all the evidence available to me is a public area and got threatened with towing because it is a “private space”. I doubt they would be able to prove ownership but I am just wondering if they will be even asked by the towing company.


There are many shady towing companies. If the person wants you towed and throws them some money, they will tow and leave it to you to pursue whatever damages you think you are entitled which will be a long process.

Sorry, you might want to just move the car.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 09:30     Subject: Towing from private property DC
Anonymous wrote:If you own the property or manage the property you can just get it towed yourself.
Police don’t ticket on private property.


Thanks. There is a $250 fine listed on the DC website for parking on private property though. Also, do I need to prove ownership of the area where the car is parked when the car is being towed? I am actually on the other end of this threat. I parked in what according to all the evidence available to me is a public area and got threatened with towing because it is a “private space”. I doubt they would be able to prove ownership but I am just wondering if they will be even asked by the towing company.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 09:24     Subject: Towing from private property DC
If you own the property or manage the property you can just get it towed yourself.
Police don’t ticket on private property.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2024 09:21     Subject: Towing from private property DC
If I want to get someone’s car removed from private property in DC do I have to call the police/parking enforcement first and get them ticketed or can I just call the tow truck right away? What is then the process with the towing company? Will they need a proof of ownership from me before they tow the car? Will I need to sign anything? Thanks!