How Residents in Slidell, LA Can Challenge an Improper Vehicle Tow

What makes a tow potentially illegal?

A tow may be improper if the person or company ordering it lacked authority, required warning signs were missing, the vehicle was removed from a space that was not properly marked, or the towing company failed to follow Louisiana billing and notice rules.

The answer depends on where the vehicle was parked and why it was removed. Different rules can apply to:

• Private lots and apartment communities
• Public streets and public parking areas
• Vehicles considered abandoned
• Police-ordered or emergency tows
• Vehicles blocking driveways, fire lanes, travel lanes, or access routes

A missing warning sticker does not automatically make every tow illegal. In some situations, a law enforcement agency may authorize removal, or a property owner may have a properly executed towing agreement and compliant signs that eliminate the need for an individual warning tag.

What should private-property signs look like?

Louisiana generally requires private-property towing warnings to be clearly visible at property entrances and exits. If only certain spaces or sections are subject to towing, those areas must also be clearly marked.

A compliant warning should make it reasonably clear that unauthorized vehicles may be towed. Where a towing company is used under an agreement with the property owner, the sign must include the towing company’s name, address, and telephone number in lettering at least two inches high.

Before parking in an unfamiliar lot, look for signs at:

• Vehicle entrances and exits
• The specific row or parking area
• Individual reserved, visitor, loading, fire-lane, or accessible spaces
• Apartment or condominium parking entrances
• Areas where pavement markings may be faded or difficult to see

Take a quick photograph of the entrance and nearby signs if the rules are unclear. In the warm, storm-prone conditions common in Slidell, signs can become faded, damaged, obstructed by vegetation, or displaced after severe weather. A photograph can help document what a reasonable driver could actually see at the time of parking.

Is a warning tag required before a private-property tow?

Often, but not always. For a nonconsensual tow from a parking area, Louisiana law generally requires either authorization from a law enforcement agency or a visible removal tag placed on the vehicle by the property owner or an authorized representative.

The tag should state the date and time, identify the towing company, and include the printed name and signature of the person authorizing removal. It must be placed conspicuously and should not damage the vehicle.

A tag may not be required when the property owner or authorized representative signs the towing invoice before removal, or when the property has the required entrance, exit, and parking-area signage together with a written towing agreement that satisfies state requirements.

This is why the absence of a sticker is useful evidence but not conclusive proof. The important questions are whether the property had proper signs, whether the space was covered by the stated parking rules, and who authorized the tow.

What should a vehicle owner do immediately?

Start by gathering information before arguing about the tow. If the vehicle is still at the location or has only recently been removed, photograph the parking space, signs, curb markings, nearby entrances, and any remaining tag or notice.

Record:

• The exact location where the vehicle was parked
• The date and approximate time of parking
• The date and time the vehicle was discovered missing
• Whether the space was marked reserved, assigned, accessible, or restricted
• Names of witnesses
• Any text messages, lease provisions, parking permits, or payment records
• Photos showing the vehicle was legally parked or that signs were missing

If the vehicle has been taken, ask the property manager, law enforcement agency, or towing company where it was transported. Louisiana requires a storage facility receiving a vehicle from private property to notify the appropriate law enforcement authority within 24 hours. That notification should identify the location of the tow, the vehicle, and the storage location.

Do not confront a tow operator physically or attempt to stop a moving tow truck. If there is a safety issue, call law enforcement.

What must the towing company provide?

For a private-property tow, request a detailed billing invoice. It should identify the date and time of service, the towing operator, the departure time, the law enforcement agency if one requested the tow, and an itemization of all fees.

The invoice should also identify the tow as nonconsensual when applicable and provide the notice required for regulated towing charges. Keep the invoice, payment receipt, photographs, and all communications.

A company should not refuse to disclose the location of the vehicle simply because the owner questions the tow. Storage and release procedures may require proof of ownership, current registration, insurance information, or payment of legally permitted charges, but questions about the legality of the tow can be pursued separately.

Can a tow company charge any amount it chooses?

No. Louisiana regulates fees for nonconsensual towing and storage. Private-property towing charges are subject to uniform rates established under state rules, and a company may not add unauthorized or excessive charges.

Ask for an itemized explanation of each fee, including:

• Initial towing
• Daily storage
• Administrative processing
• After-hours or gate access
• Personal-property retrieval
• Payment-related charges

A storage facility generally must be open during its required business hours and must provide a method for after-hours contact when gate fees or access charges may apply. Do not sign a document stating that the tow was authorized if that is not accurate. If payment is necessary to recover the vehicle, write that payment is being made under protest and keep proof of payment.

What if the vehicle was towed from a public street?

Public-street removals follow a different process. A vehicle may be removed for reasons such as blocking traffic, creating a safety hazard, violating posted restrictions, being involved in a crash, or appearing abandoned.
Weather and emergency conditions can also affect parking enforcement. Flooding, storm preparation, downed utility lines, road work, and emergency access needs may lead to temporary restrictions. A vehicle that was legally parked earlier may become subject to removal after an emergency order or temporary restriction is posted.
For a public-street tow, ask which agency ordered the removal and what rule or incident justified it. Request the tow report, inventory information, photographs, and fee breakdown. If the vehicle was treated as abandoned, ask when and how any required notice was posted.

How can someone dispute an improper tow?

Begin with a written request to the property owner or manager and the towing company. State the facts briefly, identify the missing requirement, and attach copies rather than originals of photographs, signs, permits, and receipts.
Possible issues to raise include:

• No visible entrance or space-specific warning
• No removal tag when one was required
• The tow occurred from a space not covered by the posted rules
• The person authorizing the tow was not the property owner or authorized representative
• The invoice is incomplete or contains unexplained fees
• The company charged more than the regulated amount
• The vehicle was not reported to the appropriate law enforcement authority
• Personal property was withheld or access was improperly denied

A complaint about regulated towing charges can be directed to the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Questions involving property damage, a lease, repeated towing practices, or a significant financial dispute may require advice from a Louisiana attorney or a local legal-aid resource.
The strongest dispute is usually factual rather than emotional: where the vehicle was parked, what signs were visible, who authorized removal, what the invoice says, and whether the charges match the applicable rules.

What habits reduce the risk of an improper or mistaken tow?

Before leaving a vehicle in an unfamiliar area, check all nearby signs rather than relying only on the sign closest to the space. Keep current registration, insurance, and parking permits in the vehicle when appropriate. Avoid leaving a disabled vehicle unattended on a street, especially during severe weather or after a collision.
For apartment, condominium, or rental parking, save the lease, parking addendum, assigned-space information, and any notices about temporary restrictions. If a vehicle must remain parked during storm preparation or a household emergency, written confirmation of permission is more reliable than a verbal conversation.

A few clear photographs and a complete record of communications can make it much easier to determine whether a tow was authorized, properly documented, and charged according to Louisiana requirements.