Quote:
Originally Posted by doc
So whose responsibility is it to call the tow? Cannot believe a store manager would buy into this. Some roving LEO? Or, store security who is bored riding around the parking lot?
Go in to pick up groceries and come back and find a tow truck hooked to your rig? I expect the operator and I are gonna have a long, serious conference.
|
A very interesting post

you are correct.
I (and many others) were involved in getting such signs removed from parking lots in our neck of the woods. All the laws, regulations, responsibilities and enforcement with regard to property boil down to only a few facts.
1 Public owned and Private owned properties
2 Regulations (public and private) and responsibilities to enforce
3 Common sense.
The above sign states it is a city imposed regulation, therefore the City is obligated to pay the costs for the enforcement. For each responsibility delegated to the city police force the city has to up the budget for the extra policing. Parking on a private lot is not a criminal offense,(if you didn't see the sign how would you know) refusing to move when asked by Police is. Responsibility of property law enforcement rests with the city administration and it's By-Law officers (these are not Police, they have no powers of arrest or seizure, and report back to administration who take any punitive action that is required)
On the other hand (sign or no sign) if a property owner asks you to leave his property and you refuse then he can call the police, Then the police will ask you to leave. Refusal will get you charged/arrested and then maybe towed. If there is no one in the vehicle it can be towed. Again common sense if it is a business parking lot during business hours and unless there is a parking time limit who would be bothering you.
While traveling last year I stopped a a WM that had a No RV over-nite parking sign by city by law. I went inside and asked anyway. The store manager informed me that he had to erect the signs as decreed by the by-law, and that the by law also
asks the managers to call the police if RV's are contravening said by law. He assured us that he would never do that and if we wished to stay over night it was OK with him. No one bothered us.
Now think about that for a bit. The city made a property law which does not come under the criminal code, therefore the police are not involved. (unless the city pays them to enforce it by
asking you to leave. It can only become criminal if you refuse. So the city
asks the property owners to
act as By-Law officers by calling the police because by-law officers are 9 to 5er's

don't laugh it saves money and sometimes works.
Cheers
Willey