Apartment Complexes

When it comes to apartment towing, you want to ensure that the parking garages, parking lots, and other parking spaces reserved for your tenants are clear of unwanted vehicles. The problem is finding a solution that not only removes vehicles quickly and efficiently but also one that is 100% compliant with State laws and regulations concerning private property impounding. When your complex or lot need a tow truck fast, call Ultimate Reflections Towing.

Property managers and tenants always need to be confident that they are ensured a place to park. Some use gated and manned entries, others use carded entries, and others rely on towing companies to monitor their lots to ensure that only properly placarded vehicles occupy their spaces.

This service will not cost the apartment complex or tenants any money, the violator will be responsible for the towing and storage fees.

We offer a wide variety of parking enforcement services. These include 24-hour surveillance, regular scheduled surveillance, call-up service (the most common); where you or someone you designate call us when a parking violation has occurred, signage, placards/decals, and more. Give us a call to discuss your apartment complex towing needs in Oklahoma City.

Private Property Car Removal

Illegally parked cars, abandoned cars, and even junk cars cost the traveling public time, money, and many times, frustration. If a vehicle has been abandoned on your property for 48 hours, can be sooner depending on parking factors, such as blocking driveway, then you can have than vehicle towed away from your property. This is at no charge to the property owner or legal possesor/tenant and will be billed to the vehicle owner.

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Oklahoma Private Property Towing Laws

We own a towing, roadside assistance and wrecker service. We’re not a Law firm. We’re not licensed to practice law in this state or any other. Everything not specifically quoted from State Law is only our opinion. This information is worth every penny you’re paying for it. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the State Laws that authorize and control Private Property Impounding in the State of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Abandoned Vehicle Title

The Oklahoma Statute that authorizes towing of vehicles from private property is TITLE 47 § 954A. This statute says, in part:
In addition to any procedure provided by local ordinance, whenever the owner or legal possessor of real property or an authorized agent has reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle has been abandoned thereon, said vehicle having been on said property for a minimum of forty-eight (48) hours, or whenever a vehicle is left upon said real property without express or implied permission, such vehicle may be removed as provided in this section.

Looks like some definitions are in order. The abandonment part is quite clear. Once a car has been abandoned for 48 hours on any real property, the owner, lawful possessor, or their authorized agent can call any AA licensed wrecker service in that county and cause the vehicle to be removed and impounded.

Express vs Implied Permission with Private Property Impound Laws in Oklahoma

So what’s this stuff about express or implied permission? Let’s look at some definitions. If the legal definitions cause your eyes to glaze over, we won’t blame you if you scroll ahead to the summary at the bottom.

Express permission is very clear, so that there can be no mistake about what is intended. Express permission means that you have been told that you have permission to engage in the activity in question. In the context of parking, your neighbor Joe is having a dinner party tonight. He’s expecting lots of guests. Joe asks you if it’s OK if he directs a few of his guests to park in your driveway, since you have extra space that you aren’t using. You answer that it’s fine, so long as you aren’t blocked from coming and going. This would be express permission.

Implied permission, in the context of real property, means conduct or words or both that imply that an owner or occupant of land has agreed to another person’s use of or ability to enter land. In the context of parking, implied permission would mean that if you have a business with a parking lot, permission is implied for the public to enter your property and park a car without specifically asking, especially when such entry is for the purpose of doing business with the business in question. Implied permission dictates that unless constructive notice has been given that restricts the permission, the person driving the car generally has your permission to enter upon and park in your parking lot.

How do I Remove This Implied Permission?

Hold up, so I have to just let anyone park in my business lot for up to 48 hours? Well, no. This is where signage comes in. The goal of signage is to NEGATE implied permission.
The following language, when properly posted and visible from either all entrances or all spaces, would negate implied permission. There is no specific language required, and these examples are not the only wordings that can be utilized.

Are There Some Instances When I Don’t Need Signs?

Yes. Any parking that endangers the safety of others, blocks legitimate access to trash dumpsters, marked fire lanes, driveways, or loading docks would not fit into implied permission. Vehicles parked on top of underground storage tank drops do not have implied permission, unless you’ve painted parking spaces there. Those vehicles can be towed immediately, even if no signs are present. Also, any person who you or your designated agent has told that they cannot park there, no longer has implied permission and can be towed at once.

What about vehicles parked on your lot in order to advertise they’re for sale? It’s my opinion that implied permission to park a vehicle in a business parking lot includes only certain purposes. I don’t believe that a reasonable person would feel like permission to conduct used car advertising has been implied. If someone insists on using your $1.3 million high-exposure parking lot to get exposure for their amateur used car dealership, you should have their inventory removed from your business at their cost.

Who Can Order a Vehicle Removed?

Let’s also look at the differences between “owner, lawful possessor, or their authorized agent”. The owner of real property is the person or corporation whose name is on the deed. A lawful possessor is a person who enjoys legal control of a property that they do not strictly own. This would be a tenant, in most cases. An authorized agent is any person (relative, friend, employee, etc) who the owner or lawful possessor has authorized to direct the removal of abandoned vehicles.

Am I stuck with putting big ugly signs on my house?

Does implied permission generally apply to residential property? My opinion is NO. No reasonable person would assume that it’s OK to just leave their car in another person’s private driveway, wouldn’t you agree? If I came home from work and my driveway was blocked by some random car, preventing me from accessing my garage, I would have that vehicle impounded immediately. However, apartment parking spaces are a little different. If you, the tenant, have specific marked spaces assigned to you in your lease, then you can have unauthorized vehicles towed from your space or spaces. You will need to present a copy of the lease, specifying the numbered spaces that are assigned to you. If you do not have a specific numbered space assigned in the lease, you’ll need to contact the apartment manager, not a wrecker service.

Summary of the Entire Law

Bottom line is, It’s important to know private property impound laws in Oklahoma. If you own, rent, or manage a parking area at a publicly accessible business located within the State of Oklahoma, and you don’t have signage that negates implied permission to park in your lot, then you cannot legally have vehicles removed until they meet the definition of abandoned (48 hours), unless the vehicle is disrupting access to necessary areas such as loading areas, fire lanes, driveways, or dumpsters. Also, any business can have any car towed that’s not displaying a handicapped parking placard or license plate while parked in a handicapped space. I also contend that those vehicles left in your lot with “For Sale” all over them do not have implied permission.

Signs are not very expensive, and we can even help obtain and install them. With proper signage, you can have a vehicle removed as soon as you detect that the driver has parked on your lot, then left your property to visit another business or event. But even more important, effective signage will deter many drivers from abusing your parking.
Regardless of any signage, if you find an unauthorized car parked in your assigned space at your apartment, you can have them towed…but ONLY if you show language in your lease that assigns you that specific parking space. Otherwise, you need to contact the apartment manager.

Under private property impound laws in Oklahoma, vehicles parked on a public street can ONLY be ordered removed by law enforcement, even if it’s blocking your driveway. Call them if the car isn’t located on private property.

If you are in Oklahoma County, we’d be happy to do a no charge site survey, then make suggestions. Our experience in parking solutions could save you time and money experimenting with ineffective efforts. We specialize in solutions! Call us today!

Source: Oktow.com