George Gombossy (formerly of the Courant) reports that there will be some significant towing policy changes in Hartford. A few years ago when my stolen car had been recovered, I was informed that it was towed (without my consent or choice of who would tow it) to an autobody and storage in the South Meadows. While this was not the biggest headache in the entire ordeal, I would have preferred to have my car towed using AAA and brought to an autoshop I had already developed a relationship with. Fortunately, it looks like others those cars break down or are stolen will not have to tolerate the HPD making these types of decisions for them in the future.
Chris
Years ago, the city towed a beater Volvo I owned and then promptly lost it. When I called the HPD, they said they hadn’t towed it and suggested that maybe it had been stolen. I knew this was not the case because, for one thing, it was an unappealing $200 beater, and another because it had broken down a few days prior and couldn’t have left its parking spot under its own power.
I finally located the car by way of some legwork and some personal and professional acquaintances in both local law enforcement and towing. It ended as well as I could have hoped; I even had the car delivered back to me!
I can’t imagine how much worse that would have gone but for a couple of coincidental connections.
kerri provost
It sort of sounds like they did you a service by removing and losing that piece of junk. Oh, they found it. Nevermind.
Mariana Evica
When I lived in Hartford, my 1993 Honda was stolen twice, and had to be recovered. I also paid a ton in towing and storage. What a racket!
kerri provost
My former insurance company was giving me the runaround, so my car had to be stored for awhile before any work was approved to happen on it.
I’m sort of in disbelief that it’s taken this long for any reform to happen. You’re right– such a racket!