More than 100 driver will be reimbursed about $34,5000 after their vehicles were illegally towed from a Kearny Mesa shopping center, according to the city attorney’s office.
NK Towing will have to give back all the fees it earned under what officials call a “predatory towing scheme.”
According to a criminal complaint filed against the business, Vista resident Elvin Vega requested and was given commissions from NK Towing owner Amir Iravani.
For eight months, Vega would call the company to tow away vehicles from the Plaza del Sol shopping center at 4688 Convoy Street, the city attorney’s office says.
In some documented instances, the complaint says the cars were towed despite being in the lot less than an hour, and other cars were taken more than 10 miles from the shopping Center. The law states companies must wait an hour after a driver parks a vehicle before towing it, and the tow yard must be within 10 miles.
NK Towing operates out of four North County cities; Del Mar is the closest.
The complaint says Vega did not have the authority from the shopping center’s manager or property owner to request tows from the area, which is required by law. It is also illegal under the California Vehicle Code to receive compensation from a towing company in exchange for requesting services.
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The practice went on until May 2014, and 113 drivers had their cars illegally taken away, according to the city attorney. Now, they will receive a total of $34,580 from NK Towing. In exchange, the company and Iravani were dismissed from the criminal case.
Vega pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor unauthorized towing, and he was ordered to serve three years of probation and to pay fines.
“We will continue to use all of the tools at our disposal to investigate and prosecute individuals and companies involved in predatory towing,” City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said in a statement.
His office maintains a consumer hotline at 619-533-5600, which people can call with consumer complaints. For more on towing laws, click here.
