Attorney General's News Release

November 13, 2000

Nixon obtains court order putting St. Louis couple out of towing business and ordering them to pay $35,000

St. Louis, Mo. — A St. Louis couple whose towing business was the subject of more than 50 complaints about its rates and practices have paid $22,500 in consumer restitution and are permanently banned from doing any towing under a court order obtained today by Attorney General Jay Nixon.

Charles Lewis Michels and Deanna Michels, who have done business under the names American Towing, Crash Towing and Metro Towing, also paid $12,500 to the state in penalties and costs as part of the consent judgment approved by St. Louis City Circuit Judge David C. Mason. The defendants also were responsible for court costs.

Nixon said his office had received numerous complaints about the Michelses' towing businesses, including that they:

• Towed vehicles from property that lacked any signage prohibiting public parking;
• Charged unconscionably and unreasonably high rates for towing and storage services, including charges of more than $5,000, before releasing the motor vehicle to the owner;
• Failed to maintain a 24-hour release provision for vehicles that were towed; and
• Charged storage fees for periods of time when the owners or operators of the towed vehicles were not allowed to retrieve the vehicles.

"While drivers need to respect and obey restrictions on parking, they also have a right to be protected from predatory towing practices," Nixon said. "The permanent ban contained in this court order is a clear signal that we will continue to go after bad actors in this business."

Nixon previously obtained injunctions against three other St. Louis towing businesses, Action Towing, Parking Enforcement Inc. and State Towing, including court orders for restitution and penalties.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818