*Bricktown parking* Towing Complaint

**Rob in Tulsa** · 11-26-2006, 09:08 PM

My son last night had his car towed because his "on the street 2 hr parking space" became an *unloading zone* after hours. He is a student at OU and he met his uncle from New Jersey to visit Bricktown. He said there no signs about the towing- I can understand a ticket but a towing charge that ended being $166 - costing us $170 cash because the impound station only takes cash & makes no change- is a bit hard to swallow. To add insult to injury, my wife had to drive from Tulsa to pay the fees because the car was in our name.

My wife had to go downtown police station to verify that we own the car and a long distance from downtown to the impound lot. My son said that apparently there several other suckers that fell into the same racket.

Needless to say none of our family will be going back to Bricktown.

**bandnerd** · 11-26-2006, 09:11 PM

So you're seriously going to let a parking issue keep you from visiting?

Yeah, the parking in Bricktown sucks. We all know that. Park somewhere downtown for free and take the 25-cent trolley and avoid the whole parking thing.

An expensive mistake, for sure. I've never parked on the street in Bricktown before, though. Always in a lot, even if I had to walk from Bass Pro to Abuelo's. I always figured the extra walking would let me eat more chips haha.

**Rob in Tulsa** · 11-26-2006, 09:12 PM

I guess if you are a local , you will know all the parking spots and the tricks. My complaint is that it is a racket and is not justified

**Steve** · 11-26-2006, 09:25 PM

My name is Steve Lackmeyer and I am a reporter at The Oklahoman. Please email me at slackmeyer@oklahoman.com so I can visit with you about a possible story.
Thanks - Steve Lackmeyer

**bandnerd** · 11-26-2006, 09:48 PM

I would go down there and check for the signs...your son (not calling him a liar or anything) might have missed it.

**Rob in Tulsa** · 11-26-2006, 09:54 PM

You have got to be kidding! I am over a 100 miles from OKC. Besides who would expect their car to be towed from a metered parking spot? Ticketed yes, towed no....

**mranderson** · 11-26-2006, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Rob in Tulsa

You have got to be kidding! I am over a 100 miles from OKC. Besides who would expect their car to be towed from a metered parking spot? Ticketed yes, towed no....

.

If there are multiple violations, then nearly all, if not all police departments impound vehicles.

**bandnerd** · 11-26-2006, 10:07 PM

Well, your son is closer, maybe he could have a looksee then. Wasn't trying to offend, but check everything out before going to the press or giving up on Bricktown altogether. Something could have been missed. If not, then by all means, do something about it.

**John** · 11-26-2006, 10:22 PM

Where exactly did he park?

Prunepicker · 11-27-2006, 12:28 AM

[bandnerd So you're seriously going to let a parking issue keep you from visiting?]

I've worked a lot in Bricktown (full time musician) over the past few years and have never considered the parking to be a problem. If parking jumps to $10 because of some big event SO WHAT! The idea to park in the downtown district and ride the trolley for a quarter or fifty cents is simply common sense. How about adding carpool? Walking is good exercise.

Many times I've wheeled my double bass and amp several blocks from the Santa Fe parking lot to get to work
I know some people, for some reason, think they're owed convenience but most people I work with don't think anything of it.

**Flatlander** · 11-27-2006, 09:22 AM

Welcome to the big city,I dont know what trick on parking you are reffering to,or racket.It seems to me if your son pays a little closer attention to where he is parking then this would be a non event.This sounds like a personal problem not a problem with bricktown or the impound lot.Hope you let all your friends know that illegal parking in bricktown will not be tolorated.Have a stern talk with your son so he does not do this to his mother again.

**jbrown84** · 11-27-2006, 01:12 PM

Well I would agree that if he just missed the sign, tough luck. But if there was no sign or it was very tiny or hidden or misleading, I would appeal it or whatever you can do.

**metro** · 11-27-2006, 01:52 PM

Yeah, I agree. It was probably a missed sign. And I'm not sure who started the parking meter thing. The original post said 2 hr parking, not parking meter. Usually those are green signs and also mention something about unloading zones. You're cheating your family if you won't visit Bricktown or downtown OKC because of this one event. Buyer beware as they say!

**HFK** · 11-27-2006, 04:08 PM

I'm not familiar with that aspect of Bricktown (I've either paid the $5, or found an open slot with a meter, or parked at Bass Pro and walked). I am a bit familiar with towing and it IS a racket, and not just here in OKC. Overcharges, surly people, daily storage fees, and lost/stolen contents are just a few of the joys encountered when your car is towed. They really stick it to the owner, because they know that the owner has no choice and that they're representing the city (I presume that OKC's is still a private wrecking yard under contract with the City?)

Patrick · 11-27-2006, 04:13 PM

It's funny that the story has changed now. First Rob in Tulsa states that his son was parked at a street parking place, and shouldn't have been towed. Now he states that it was metered parking. Well, if it was indeed metered parking, did he put money in the meter? If there was no money put in the meter, no wonder why he was toed. There is no time restriction on the parking meters in Bricktown. They're services 24/7, 365.

**jbrown84** · 11-27-2006, 08:59 PM

Where is the any instance of parking on the street that doesn't have a meter?

Keith · 11-27-2006, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick

It's funny that the story has changed now. First Rob in Tulsa states that his son was parked at a street parking place, and shouldn't have been towed. Now he states that it was metered parking. Well, if it was indeed metered parking, did he put money in the meter? If there was no money put in the meter, no wonder why he was toed. There is no time restriction on the parking meters in Bricktown. They're services 24/7, 365.

I know that after 5 PM on weekdays, and all weekends, that you don't have to feed the parking meters downtown, but I don't know about Bricktown. Do you have to feed the meters in Bricktown 24/7?

Even during the daytime, when the meters are being monitored downtown, I have not heard of anyone getting towed....they just get ticketed.

Patrick · 11-27-2006, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Keith

I know that after 5 PM on weekdays, and all weekends, that you don't have to feed the parking meters downtown, but I don't know about Bricktown. Do you have to feed the meters in Bricktown 24/7?

Even during the daytime, when the meters are being monitored downtown, I have not heard of anyone getting towed....they just get ticketed.

Yeah, parking meters in Bricktown have to be fed 24/7. It says it on the meter if you read it.

Keith · 11-27-2006, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick

Yeah, parking meters in Bricktown have to be fed 24/7. It says it on the meter if you read it.

The "meter maids" enforce the parking downtown...who enforces it in Bricktown..the police? I wouldn't think the police would have time to monitor the parking situation, unless someone parks illegally and blocks someone in.

**lcd1712** · 11-28-2006, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by bandnerd

An expensive mistake, for sure. I've never parked on the street in Bricktown before, though. Always in a lot, even if I had to walk from Bass Pro to Abuelo's. I always figured the extra walking would let me eat more chips haha.

Not only you would be able to eat more chips, you would help bring more life to the streets of Bricktown.

That way, Bricktown won't look so deserted as someone said about some pics in a previous thread.

**bandnerd** · 11-28-2006, 10:58 AM

Well, I mean, how many entertainment districts exist where you can actually park right outside the restaurant or other establishment you are visiting? Once in a blue moon we'll have good "parking karma," as we call it, and get a close space. But most times, we either have to walk or pay. Since we live downtown, sometimes we walk the 1+ mile to Bricktown.

I seriously doubt that in any major city, you are going to find free parking right outside where you want to be. That only happens on TV or in movies.

**BDP** · 11-28-2006, 04:48 PM

If it seriously wasn't marked, you should fight it, because that's BS. However, make sure you read all parking signs to the curb so you know there aren't any restrictions. If it was marked as an "unloading zone", then it was his mistake. Unloading zones are tow zones and I'm pretty sure that any parking violations can result in a tow.

I can understand your frustration with the inconvenience, but they have to have parking restrictions to give everyone better access. It's very typical in areas like bricktown and it's good that they are enforcing those policies for the betterment of the district.

**metro** · 11-28-2006, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Keith

I know that after 5 PM on weekdays, and all weekends, that you don't have to feed the parking meters downtown, but I don't know about Bricktown. Do you have to feed the meters in Bricktown 24/7?

Even during the daytime, when the meters are being monitored downtown, I have not heard of anyone getting towed....they just get ticketed.

Keith, actually it's after 6pm on weekdays in downtown and you don't have to on the weekends. Not sure about Bricktown though.

**maestro** · 11-28-2006, 05:56 PM

FWIW, I don't think the meters in Bricktown are monitored nights and weekends. My guess is that the guy's son was not on a meter - probably in a commercial loading zone or something.

**fsusurfer** · 11-29-2006, 09:34 AM

Im almost positive meters arn't moniterd on the weekends or evenings

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