NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Acting Attorney General John Hoffman filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against a Middlesex County-based towing company that allegedly charged excessive towing fees when removing vehicles from private parking lots.
Scott Flowers' Towing, doing business as Scott's Towing, allegedly committed multiple violations of the Predatory Towing Prevention Act and Regulations and one violation of the Consumer Fraud Act. Scott's Towing allegedly failed to place adequate signage to fully disclose required information to consumers about non-consensual towing, misrepresented the amount of towing fees on its signage, did not possess contracts to service two of the three lots it serviced and charged consumers for storage for two days when vehicles were in its possession for less than one day.
"Open season on motorists by predatory towers is over," Hoffman said. "We will find those towers who prey on motorists and make a quick, illegal profit and we will hold them accountable for their actions."
The Predatory Towing Prevention Act states that towing fees are considered excessive if they exceed by more than 50 percent, or a different percentage established by the director by regulation, the standard fee charged for such services. Hoffman alleged Scott's Towing charged motorists a $195 towing fee compared to the $111 average towing fee charged by five other local towing companies.
The lawsuit seeks the return of the allegedly excessive fees and the imposition of civil penalties against Scott's Towing.
Towing company accused of excessive fees by N.J. attorney general
