Chances are, you go into an apartment, duplex or other rental property during the day. You will not see any tow-a-way trucks.  You move in your new home, have a few friends or family members over to help you get settled in. Before you can blink, a person leaving runs back in and tells you their vehicle is gone !!  Welcome to being a student in Tallahassee, you have just found out what that small print in your lease is about......

Thing to look for, prior to looking at the rental unit. When you turn into the property look on both sides of ALL entrances to the property. If there is a sign posted with a towing company name & number. Speak up, ask the property manager about this. When you are told this is to make sure no else parks in your spot. Most people will ask about the visitors parking.

VISITORS PARKING: This can be very misleading, Be sure to find out at what times are people allowed to park there. Do they need a visitors pass to prevent them from being towed? During what hours can you pick up a pass if needed. Below is a true story.

PARENTS WEEK-END: A nice family had two children, both students in Tallahassee. The parents arrived in Tallahassee around 7pm, parked in visitors parking. Took the family out to eat, returned to the complex they pay for two rental units. By then it was after 11pm. The parents went to one childs unit then to see the others. When they returned to their vehicle, it was gone, towed away. The complex required a visitors pass to park there after midnight !! Since they arrived after the management office was closed as well as the towing company, there was no one or place for them to get a pass. What should have been a great family week-end, turned into a nightmare for the whole family.

Another case of this would be a father who came to town to go to a football game with his son. The game had a 'weather delay' causing the game to end after 11pm. When they returned from the game, the vehicle was gone. Not stolen (as per the law) it had been towed away.