A Miami Beach woman reported that her car was hauled away in what officials described as a fraudulent tow, and two men are now accused of carrying it out. The allegation arrives as the city is trying to rein in the towing headaches that have long frustrated residents and visitors.
The case surfaced Friday in a report from CBS News Miami, which said the woman called officials after discovering her vehicle had been towed fraudulently. The online report did not identify the woman, the two men, the towing company involved or any specific criminal charges.
Miami Beach’s towing rules distinguish between public and private-property removals. The city says public-property tows generally involve a parking citation, while private-property tows require authorization from the property owner or agent and properly posted tow-away signs, according to the Miami Beach Towing Bill of Rights.
Miami Beach Has Just Tightened Its Towing Rules
The accusation comes less than a month after the city launched its End Resident Tows reform on July 1. Under the new program, registered residents can receive up to three 15-minute courtesy warning texts before a fourth non-safety parking violation results in a tow, the City of Miami Beach said.
The new policy is aimed at reducing unnecessary tows of residents’ vehicles, not at resolving allegations that someone lacked authority to remove a car. Local reporting on the change noted that commissioners approved it after years of complaints about fast, costly tows in the parking-starved city, making the latest case an especially awkward moment for Miami Beach’s tow-enforcement system.
What Florida Law Requires For Private-Property Tows
Florida law generally allows a property owner, lessee or authorized representative to order the removal of a vehicle parked on private property without permission, but only if the statutory conditions are followed. The requirements are laid out in Florida Statute 715.07, which covers authorization, notice and other restrictions on private-property towing.
That means investigators would likely need to establish who requested the tow, whether the location was properly marked and what documentation the men had, if any. Until officials release more details or prosecutors announce charges, the accusation remains just that—not a finding that either man is guilty.
Drivers who believe their vehicle was improperly towed can check the tow receipt, photograph nearby signs and contact Miami Beach Parking Enforcement at 305.604.4785, according to the city. Miami Beach also says its towing Bill of Rights should be displayed in tow-company customer areas, attached to receipts and posted on tow trucks.
