| Has someone left an abandoned vehicle on your | | | | of the motorist. The tow away sign should be |
| parking lot? What can you do if someone parks | | | | installed so that the bottom edge of the sign is no |
| on your property and then dines at a restaurant | | | | lower than five feet and no higher than eight feet |
| across the street? Can you tow a vehicle from a | | | | above ground level. |
| handicap parking spot if they just run in for a few | | | | Some states have rules that the sign must be |
| minutes? What happens if they show up while | | | | continuously maintained which means the lettering |
| their vehicle is being towed? | | | | cannot have faded. You will want to use a |
| The laws for towing vehicles from your private | | | | weather resistant material like sign grade |
| property are different than towing a vehicle from | | | | aluminum. It is a .080 inch thick alloy that is long |
| a public street. Stiff fines can be imposed if you | | | | lasting and rust free even in harsh weather |
| illegally remove a motor vehicle without the | | | | extremes. |
| owner's consent. Much worse, you may have an | | | | The sign lettering must be large enough to be |
| ugly confrontation. | | | | readable. Some states go as far as specifying the |
| Sign laws vary slightly from state to state but | | | | height of the letters ranging from 1 inch to 4 inch. |
| are generally the same throughout the country. | | | | A 1 inch sign letter is readable from 50 feet away |
| But it is always best to contact the local police | | | | and a 4 inch letter is readable from 200 feet |
| authority for the exact rules as our research has | | | | away. Most states specify that the sign lettering |
| found conflicts in the sign requirements from | | | | must be on a contrasting background. |
| neighboring municipalities. | | | | Your sign should be reflective so it is visible at |
| First, determine if you are subject to signage | | | | night or dimly lit environments. |
| requirements. A residential homeowner of four | | | | Your Tow Away Parking Sign must state who is |
| units or less is not typically required to post | | | | entitled to park in the area, for example, |
| towing notices to have a vehicle removed that is | | | | Customer Parking Only, Employee Parking Only or |
| blocking their driveway. Could you imagine what it | | | | Resident Parking Only. The parking sign must |
| would look like if every suburban home had a no | | | | state that the area is subject to tow away, this |
| parking sign in their driveway? | | | | can be done by using the international tow away |
| If you are a property manager of an office | | | | symbol which is a graphic of a car on a tow |
| building, shopping center, apartment complex or | | | | truck's hook. The sign must state that violators |
| condominium community then you will need to | | | | will be towed at vehicle owner's expense and the |
| conspicuously post parking signs that your area is | | | | towing and storage rates. The sign must provide |
| subject to tow away. | | | | the name and telephone number of the towing |
| The sign must be prominently placed at each | | | | company where they can reclaim their vehicle. |
| vehicular entrance to the property which can | | | | Reference the State's Vehicle Code that |
| easily be seen by the public. You want the | | | | authorizes you to tow away, for example, CVC |
| motorist to be informed upfront, usually within 5 | | | | 22658. |
| feet from the public right-of-way; don't hide the | | | | There are exceptions to tow away sign |
| signs in the back of the parking lot. If your | | | | requirements. Unregistered or abandoned vehicles |
| parking lot does not have a curb cut entrance, | | | | can be towed away without notice. Cars parked |
| then a sign must be posted every 25 feet apart | | | | in a designated handicap parking spot can be |
| along the frontage. | | | | towed away immediately. Cars parked in a fire |
| The size of the sign varies but typically it should | | | | lane, blocking the free flow of traffic, or blocking a |
| be not less than 18 inch x 24 inch. The State of | | | | driveway can be towed without the vehicle |
| New Jersey has just passed a law that requires | | | | owner's consent. And obviously, you can never |
| the sign to be 36 inch x 36 inch in some cases. | | | | tow away police, firefighting, rescue squad, |
| You will want the sign to be installed at eye level | | | | ambulance, or other emergency vehicles. |
