DA's Office Sues Tow Company for Alleged Illegal Towing, Excessive Fees

A Redwood City towing company has been accused of illegally towing vehicles throughout San Mateo County and overcharging hundreds of customers, a deputy district attorney said Wednesday.

The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Isabel Trujillo, the owner of Specialty Towing and Recovery, a towing and vehicle storage business formerly located at 2666 Middlefield Road, Deputy District Attorney Chuck Finney said.

The district attorney's office received several reports of alleged wrongdoing at the business, Finney said. The company's business license was suspended by the state in August 2011.

Trujillo is suspected of billing more than 300 customers for excessive fees totaling more than $24,000 for tows that involved special equipment, Finney said. The equipment surcharge is illegal in San Mateo County, Finney said.

Trujillo is further suspected of illegally towing vehicles from private, reserved parking lots without the permission of the property owners, Finney said. Finney said customers who reclaimed their cars were not provided required documents that explained they had the right to contact the local police department if it was suspected that the vehicle was towed illegally.

Attorneys for Trujillo will have 30 days to respond to the legal action, according to the district attorney's office. The case could go to trial as early as June.

Consumers who believe that they might have been charged an illegal fee or have a complaint against Specialty Towing are asked to contact the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office at (650) 363-4651.

--- Bay City News