University of Kentucky - Kentuckian Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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There 's no business like Tow Business R.T. Gardner, a business junior, had his car towed from campus about 15 times. You think somebody stole it (your car) for about five seconds, Gardner said. Then you realize where you parked. Gardner said his car was damaged when it was towed and his friend's car was totaled. They (UK police) don't give a damn if they wreck your car or anything. It's a sad, sad situa- tion if they do you that way, he said. David Brewster, assistant director for parking and transportation, said cars were not towed if they did not have outstanding tickets. We try not to tow on a first offense, he said, because some cars belong to visitors who do not know about UK parking regulations. But Betty Wade, office supervisor for parking, said a car can be towed on one violation if it was parked on a yellow line or in a designated tow- zone area. We, being the university police, do not enjoy towing cars, Brewster said. We would rather not tow any cars. We don't like dealing with angry people. According to the police, once a car was towed, there were several steps the owner took to repossess the vehi- cle. First, owners checked with UK po- lice to make sure it has been towed by calling the station between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If the campus po- lice didn't have it towed, the Lexing- ton police may have, Brewster said. If campus police towed the car, the owner reported to the UK Division of Public Safety at 305 Euclid Avenue. Before 4:00 p.m. the citations depart- ment would take care of complaints. After that, owners saw the police dis- patcher, he said. The dispatcher explained why the car was towed, Brewster said, and in- formed the owner that any outstand- ing fines must be paid before it could be retrieved. In addition, the owner paid a $4 parking fine and a $20 towing fee. Checks were accepted for total amounts less than $35; otherwise, cash was necessary. The owner then was be given a computer-printed reciept which had to be taken to the impoundment lot on the comer of College View and Rose Street. A UK police officer es- corted or met the towed car owner at the lot. The Winchester Towing Co. per- formed all university towings, Brewster said. Automobile damages as a result of towing were the re- sponsibility of the towing company, he said. The tow-truck driver was supposed to record all damages on a car before it was hitched to the truck, he said. If an owner claimed damages incurred during towing, the owner was to con- sult the towing company. Students who had been towed, however, were disgruntled over the towing system. Richard Isaacs, a journalism sopho- more, was towed once last August. He parked in the Shively Sports Cen- ter lot at the beginning of the Fall se- mester before parking stickers were on sale. He said there was no saying it was a tow away zone. Isaacs said getting his car back really hectic and embarrassing, not a very good system. I think there's a lot of things could be changed, Gardner said of the UK towing system. He said he be- lieved towing was necessary, but there might have been a better way. —Sandy James sign was It's that 22 Towing