Houston Court Awards $252.56 in Illegal Towing Dispute
A towing company towed a vehicle despite the owner having a valid permit. The owner confronted the driver, but the tow proceeded. The towing company later submitted photos of a different vehicle. The court found the tow was illegal and awarded the owner damages for removal and storage costs.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $252
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Case Overview
On January 31, 2018, a vehicle was towed from an apartment complex in Houston, Texas, by a towing company despite displaying a valid parking permit. The plaintiff, the vehicle owner, confronted the tow truck driver during the removal, but the driver refused to stop. The towing company later submitted photographs that depicted a different vehicle than the one actually towed. The plaintiff challenged the tow, seeking the return of the vehicle and a legal determination of its illegality.
A tow hearing in Justice Court, Precinct 8, Place 2, found no probable cause to authorize the vehicle's removal. The court issued its formal findings on March 2, 2018, confirming this conclusion. The towing company subsequently filed a notice of appeal, transferring the case to the County Civil Court at Law.
Following a bench trial, the County Civil Court at Law upheld the lower court's decision on May 29, 2018. The court again determined that the vehicle's removal and storage lacked probable cause, aligning with Chapter 2308 of the Texas Occupations Code. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff and awarded $252.56 to cover the costs of the vehicle's removal and storage, along with court costs, to be paid by the towing company.
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