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Protesters Call For Crown Towing Probe

by Thomas MacMillan | Oct 25, 2012 8:15 am

(20) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Legal Writes, Transportation

Thomas MacMillan Photo Two days after they left a Crown Street lot in handcuffs, a mother and daughter returned with a bullhorn and two dozen supporters—to seek an investigation of the city’s towing monopoly.

Robyn (at center left in photo) and Rojonna Handy (at center right) returned to the lot, Crown Towing at 288 Crown St. at 6 p.m. Wednesday as part of a protest organized by activist Pastor Donald Morris (at left). The two women said they had been wrongfully arrested for assault there on Monday night and that the towing company swindled them out of $158.

Robyn, who’s 51, and Rojonna, who’s 24, were arrested on Monday and accused of assaulting a clerk at the towing company, a woman who is eight months pregnant. The mother and daughter had gone to the towing company to retrieve Rojonna’s burgundy 2005 PT Cruiser, which had been towed for unpaid taxes.

They arrived with a business card with writing on the back, which they claimed was a receipt from a previous $158 tax payment to a Crown tow truck driver. They argued that the card showed that the taxes had been paid. Staff at Crown Towing took the card, but refused to release the car, they said.

A dispute ensued, which ended with the Handys in handcuffs, after police reviewed surveillance tape that allegedly showed them assaulting the clerk. Police also found the business card ripped up in the trash. Cops took it as evidence after the Handys managed to take a photo of it, which Morris displayed at the protest.

The Handys said Wednesday evening that they were simply defending themselves from the clerk, who had acted as the aggressor in the confrontation. Robyn said the ripped-up card is evidence that the towing company was trying to hide an illegal practice by one of its drivers—pocketing money given for unpaid taxes. Tax money can only be collected by the city or, after hours, by the tow company.

Morris called on the city to investigate Crown’s towing practices and to cease its contract with the company. Protestors at the Wednesday night event had a petition (pictured) asking the city to do the same.

“This is an allegation that we take very seriously and it’s something that we’ll look into,” said city spokeswoman Elizabeth Benton.

Asked if the police department is investigating Crown Towing, Lt. Jeff Hoffman said, “If there was, I would not be able to comment on it.”

A Crown Towing staffer at the gate to the company’s lot declined to comment Wednesday night.

Crown has an exclusive contract with the city to tow cars for unpaid taxes. Click here and here to read previous stories reporting on concerns about that.

Through a bullhorn Wednesday night, Morris recounted what had happened to the Handys:

On Sept. 20, Rojonna discovered that her PT Cruiser was being towed for unpaid taxes. The car was already being lifted up by the tow truck when she asked what she could do to avoid having it taken away. The tow truck driver told her he would take the tax money she owed, and let her have her car back. She paid him $158 and received in return for a receipt written on his business card, with the understanding that her outstanding taxes had thus been paid.

Then on Monday she found that her car had been towed. She went to Crown Towing with her mom to try to get her car back, but found that the company wouldn’t release the car, even after taking the business card they brought to show the taxes were paid.

They wouldn’t give back the card, either, Morris said. “They wanted to be able to get rid of the evidence.”

Robyn then called the police from the parking lot. The towing company clerk came out and told her to leave, then pushed her and hit her, Robyn said.

“I am not an aggressive person,” Robyn said. “It was self-defense. She hit me first. All I wanted was the card.” She acknowledged that she had fought with the clerk, but said it was only to protect herself.

Rojonna acknowledged that she had fought with the clerk too, but was only trying to protect her mother. “Any human being who sees her mother getting hurt is going to defend her mother.”

“When I was pushed, it got out of control,” Robyn said.

Robyn and Rojonna said they’ve been smeared in the media since their arrests, which has had a negative impact on their lives. Their employer has placed them on administrative leave while they sort out the charges against them. They declined to say where they work.

Robyn said she thinks the tow truck driver just pocketed Rojonna’s money on Sept 20th. “They’re doing something totally illegal.”

Meanwhile Rojonna’s PT Cruiser is still being held by Crown Towing.

“I gave my money, and now I’m going to have to pay again to get my car because they want to rip me off,” she said.

The protest ended with a prayer.

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Comments

posted by: Pedro Soto on October 25, 2012  10:01am

This is just an absolute mess. I won’t speak to the particulars of this event, but I do think that the towing and tax impounding policy needs to be dealt with.

The fact that the city outsources this to private towing contractors, and then selects one as “first among equals” to handle tax payments opens up so much potential for problems, that I can’t believe we are doing this.

Does anyone have any experience with other cities? Do other cities do this?

I think that issues such as unpaid taxes and parking tickets should go through the city. Period. Let’s get the towing companies out of this.

posted by: Long Time NH Resident on October 25, 2012  10:02am

How can I sign this petition? they have been getting away with this for too long.

posted by: Threefifths on October 25, 2012  10:17am

As Warner Wolf would say.“Let’s go to the videotape!”

posted by: howeman on October 25, 2012  10:22am

I have been towed by this company. They truly revel in making life harder for people. I consider myself a rational person, I understood and accepted why my car was taken, I owed taxes and I was fine with paying my bill and the tow fee. HOWEVER to deal with the woman mentioned in this article was more than upsetting! There are many adjectives I could use but I will contain myself. Way to confrontational to have the towing contract and not worthy of New Haven. I hope that this probe reveals this Crown’s true nature and the contract is given to a company with class.

posted by: Yaakov on October 25, 2012  10:56am

I’ve been towed by them, and the tow truck driver was ~more~ than happy to offer to take my cash to pay my taxes right there on the spot. He said if I paid him the money right then, he would drop the car off the tow truck.

posted by: Streetdude on October 25, 2012  11:07am

I FULLY support any scrutinizing of Crown Street Towing. While they haven’t wronged me personally, the few times I’ve dealt with them were the least professional and most aggravating ‘consumer’ experiences I’ve ever had.  Their policies seem unreasonable and their staff is absolutely awful.

posted by: Threefifths on October 25, 2012  12:19pm

posted by: Pedro Soto on October 25, 2012 10:01am

Does anyone have any experience with other cities? Do other cities do this?

I think that issues such as unpaid taxes and parking tickets should go through the city. Period. Let’s get the towing companies out of this.

You are correct.In New York they donot Tow your car. Booting is an enforcement tool used instead of towing.If you owe more than $350 in parking, red light camera or bus lane violation tickets in judgment and you are parked on a public street, you may have a boot attached to your vehicle. To get the boot off, call the toll-free phone number on the boot notice and give the customer service representative your debit/credit card number. You will then receive a release code. Once you enter the code, the boot will unlock and you can remove it.You need to return the boot to a return location near you within 24 hours.

Read the whole program here.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/pdf/12pdf/booting_faq.pdf

posted by: ramonesfan on October 25, 2012  12:58pm

The tow truck companies are one of the things I truly hate about New Haven.  They’re vultures, making life miserable for car owners on street sweeping days and heavy snow days.  They have carte blanche to grab your car off the street, and then ransom it back to you. Not too different than the Mafia, when to stop to think about it.  Why doesn’t De Stefano do something to rein them in?

posted by: SaveOurCity on October 25, 2012  1:02pm

although I have little sympathy for people who fail to pay their taxes and assault others, this issue does shine a light on yet another problem in DeStefano-ville. 

Why is this contract restricted to only allow one company the business?  Doesn’t this restrict competition and reduce levels and service and increase price?  Are we comfortable having a tow truck operator moonlight as a tax collector?  Who keeps the records?  Hmmmm

Looking at the 2011 list of 1631 contributors to the DeStefano for mayor campaign, one of the biggest checks was written by Mr Albert Hansen, owner - Crown Auto.  (his name appears at the level with Winstanleys, Fuscos, and R2D corp).  So, if we follow the money trail, the towing company steals from the residents and then funnels proceeds to the mayor who provides an exclusive contract to the towing company so that the process is locked into place….how do we feel about that?

posted by: Streetdude on October 25, 2012  1:54pm

@SaveOurCity:

Well said. I agree with all your points but just want to point out that these women are innocent (re: the assault charges) until a judge says otherwise. And having dealt with the woman I believe they got in trouble with, I’m inclined to believe their side of the story. I’ve watched the Crown employee berate, insult, and swear at customers who were simply trying to understand policy and do what they were required to get their vehicles out. Then again if I was some clerk who constantly has to deal with people being ripped off I may not have the best disposition either…

posted by: southwest on October 25, 2012  1:55pm

I knew this was going to happen when they allowed these tow truck company to collect “cash” money for towed vehicle that owed taxes. One should never give cash to anyone especially a tow truck drive who can drive away with your cash and car. This arrangement should never been made by the city. I’m just wondering how many others has been riped off.The money should be payed directly to the police department or the tow only accept “debit cards”. Some of these tow truck drivers don’t have the greatest integrity. The city need to pull this program from them asap. As a taxpayer I just got a problem,with someone paying cash to just and average person with no credential or no forms to verify they payed. It will be there word against hers. I have no trust for tow truck company or drivers because of there past practice.

posted by: HOOKNGO on October 25, 2012  2:16pm

Ok so people are not seeing the FACTS: 1: Employee at crown was PREGNANT. 2: If people keep up with there vehicle they wouldn’t have a problem. 3:Tow Truck drivers dont just go and pick any cars well I mean any business besides Lombard’s/Anthony’s thats besides the point. Street Cleaning they are following a marked police vehicle, leaf removal they are following a marked police vehicle, Snow removal they are following a Marked police car. Do You get my point?  We dont pick up any cars we want is ticketed by the new haven parking and traffic division, We just doing our job….And to top it off her car got REPO. She definitly wasn’t keeping up with her vehicle…...

posted by: Mrs.Williams on October 25, 2012  2:40pm

LET’S be serious!!!!!!!!! why is this even a story! there is no way I would give my tax payment to a tow truck driver and then allow them to give me a supposed receipt on the back of a business card! I’m quite sure these two ladies could not have been that DUMB, while Crown towing is not the best company to deal with, please tell me why a rally with a podium is necessary when there are children dying on the streets of NEW HAVEN! get it together people

posted by: Streetdude on October 25, 2012  3:04pm

HOOKNGO: What does the clerk being pregnant have to do with this? What does her failure to make payments/pay taxes have to do with this? The issue is truck drivers ripping people off.

posted by: Long Time NH Resident on October 25, 2012  3:22pm

to HOOKNGO

1) city employees and citizens alike are held to the same standards that apply to the no violence rules posted in every office in City Hall- these standards should also apply to city vendors- if not adhered to the vendor should lose their contract.(or their attitude)
2) People are only human and will continue not to keep up with taxes/bills etc.. Judge not least ye be judged. This is irrelevant to the situation as is the subsequent repo.
3) I have seen many a tow company scoop up cars with a marked police car either nowhere in sight or long gone. So please….
4) I have yet to see responsible driving habits of ANY tow company in this town.

Stop letting Tow companies collect cash- this is a recipe for corruption. Taxes should be paid to the PD or Tax Collector ONLY !!

posted by: JohnTulin on October 25, 2012  4:36pm

OK, so even if we all agree that tow companies suck (or maybe just this one - LOL), and that they did scam this lady out of her money - that is one issue, they will be investigated and hopefully punished if so.  They’ve towed me, they’ve been jerks about it, I’ve been there too.

On the other hand - they had car towed, they didn’t pay their taxes, were dumb enough to hand a tow-guy their cash for taxes, dumb enough to think a scribble on a card was good enough for a receipt for taxes, car was not registered either, then they physically assaulted a pregnant woman? 

Based on the stories in the media, these people suck as much as the tow company.  They certainly don’t deserve some solemn prayer session and an opportunist preacher brought in. 

Get it together Mom and daughter, act civil - even when your dealing with a scum bag tow guy.

posted by: Edward_H on October 25, 2012  10:29pm

Hmmm! I wonder if they are towing a disproportionate number of minority car owners?

posted by: robn on October 26, 2012  12:44am

Hmmm?

Which do I loathe more…
Tow truck drivers or protesters with bullhorns defending the assault of a pregnant woman by exploiting my loathing of tow truck drivers?

posted by: Jones Gore on October 26, 2012  2:42am

A few years ago when I was driving, Crown Towing attempted to tow my car from a private lot where I lived just because some called them, not the land lord, called them.

I had to stand in front of the tow truck in order to prevent them from leaving with my car until the building manager arrived and told them that they had no right to be on the property towing any cars without the request or permission of building management.

Crown towing in said I had to pay them to lower my car even though they did not have a right to tow my car. So once we said we would call the police they lowered my car.

Lets not forget this come election time..Destefano has to Go.

posted by: Yaakov on October 26, 2012  8:15am

The problems with Crown Towing are only exacerbated by the fact that the New Haven tax office only coordinates with the DMV once per year.

That means that if you move and change the address to which your car is registered 4 or 5 months before tax bills are sent out, your bill will be sent to your old address to which your car is no longer registered.

The law states that regardless of whether you receive a bill, you are still responsible for payment. Well, if you’re like me and moved to New Haven from a state that doesn’t have annual car taxes, you wouldn’t no to expect the bill in the first place.

There are multiple problems with the way New Haven handles our car taxes, and Crown Towing is only responsible for some of those problems.

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