If you read the general internet it's all mobbed up guys stealing cars from law-abiding single mothers for no reason at all but then again if I believed the general public about parking violation enforcement here in germany I'd come to the conclusion they're the new jews.
So how bad is that whole privatized towing / enforcement thing, really? Is there an actual problem beyond "it's a private company" or is it mostly carbrain tears?
It's as bad as you've heard. They're pretty much cops without badges (some even carry guns) in how they target people who may or may not be able to afford the hundreds of dollars it would cost in order to get your car back from them. And that's if you can figure out a way to get to their base of operations if your only car was towed.
Yeah, usually hundreds of dollars a day cash only and the cops just let them hold your vehicle (Even if it was towed after an accident).
Your choices are lawyer up or pay and both are really expensive. I think it was about $400 for one day after I got t-boned and the cops called in a predatory lot.
I've also seen them intentionally trash cars. Like towing a RWD on the back tires with the parking brake engaged.
I don't mean this in an antagonizing way but the issue at it's core described here seems to be parking enforcement, aye? You wouldn't think of it any better if it was done by some department for no profit or whatever?
If it was done for no profit, but people's cars were still getting towed to out of the way places, it would still be a problem. Also if there was no profit motive than I don't think the predatory tow industry would exist.