LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Multiple Renaissance Festival attendees are frustrated and out hundreds of dollars after they said their cars were towed away over the weekend.
"It's so sad, trying to make money off people that came to have fun. It's just so sad to see that," said Andinwoh, a festival attendee.
Andinwoh said her 17-year-old son and his friends decided to go to the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival and parked at the Park 2000 Shopping Center on the corner of Eastern Avenue and Sunset Road Friday afternoon.
But when he and his friends came back to his car, it was gone. It had been towed to Tow Guys/Kings Towing on 3823 Losee Road in North Las Vegas.
"It's wrong," Andinwoh said. "They picked up my son's car and took it all the way to North Las Vegas — which was OK — but then when I got there I was shocked that for a 20-mile drive, their charge was over $500."
WATCH: Why do so many Renaissance festival-goers report having their cars towed?
There are signs posted at the plaza warning people that their cars could be towed if they are not customers, tenants, or employees — however, Andinwoh said the area where her son parked had no visible parking signs.
"When you know there's an event, there should be some kind of tape. My kid actually ate at the McDonald's, which is still at the same parking complex. How do you justify that he only went to Renaissance, and he was not using the other businesses around?" Andinwoh said.
Andinwoh is not the only one who got towed. Channel 13 has received multiple emails and calls from upset festival guests.
A viewer told us via email that she drove around the plaza to make sure there were no posted parking signs that prevented her from parking there. She said that she only saw signs that said, "'not to leave valuables in vehicles,' there were no tow away signs posted where I parked."
The viewer said the tow truck drivers are waiting for people to leave their cars before they strike.
"They knew that the fair was happening, and they targeted that area knowing that there was no signage except the one sign off of the entrance off of Eastern and Sunset," said Denise, another festival attendee.
Monday morning, Channel 13 anchor Justin Hinton followed up with Age of Chivalry organizers to ask them about the concerns we heard from viewers.
Festival organizers noted both their website and app make it clear that attendees should avoid parking in unauthorized areas, including businesses, or their cars could be towed.
Festival attendees were encouraged to park at two nearby schools and use the festival's shuttle service, which ran every 15 minutes throughout the event, the organizer we spoke to said.
Channel 13 also called the two tow truck companies to get their side of the story.
Kings Towing hung up the phone after we started to ask them questions. We called again, and the operator said they had no comment.
Meantime, Tow Guys said they did nothing wrong and followed all the rules.
When Channel 13 was at the plaza, our crews witnessed several tow trucks driving around the area and one car being towed.
Our crews walked up to the driver and asked how many cars they towed. The driver responded by saying, "A lot."
We also asked the driver if there were enough visible signs, and he said yes.
"There should be more indication to prevent people [to] park...and then all of a sudden give this outrageous bill," Andinwoh said.
Festival visitors also said they want to warn others not to park at the Park 2000 Shopping Center on the corner of Eastern and Sunset.
Channel 13 also drove around different business plazas near Sunset Park. Our crews said other parking lots had yellow caution tape up and multiple signs indicating cars would be towed if parked there.
What should be followed when it comes to tow signs? Click here
According to the Nevada Transportation Authority, the following should be followed when it comes to tow signs.
- Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, an operator of a tow car shall not tow a vehicle from private property at the request of the owner or person in lawful possession of the property, or a designated agent of the owner or person in lawful possession of the property, unless a sign is displayed on the property in accordance with the provisions of NRS 487.038 [leg.state.nv.us], any applicable municipal and county ordinances and subsection 6.
- In residential complexes, reserved parking spaces and areas in which parking is prohibited must be clearly marked.
- The staff of the Authority will, upon request by the operator of a tow car:
- Verify by inspection a map of each property from which tows may be made which is submitted by the operator; and
- Send a letter to the operator describing the size, color, number and placement of the sign or signs on each property and stating whether the sign or signs are in compliance with this section.
- If a sign is removed, destroyed or damaged, it must be replaced or repaired within a reasonable time.
- The Authority may grant a waiver from any of the provisions of this section if, upon application of the operator of a tow car or the owner or person in lawful possession of the property from which tows are made, it determines that a waiver is in the public interest.
- A sign or signs displayed on a parking lot pursuant to subsection 1 must:
- Be printed with contrasting background and lettering;
- Use readable lettering;
- Be placed on the parking lot in such a manner that it is in the field of view of all drivers entering the lot;
- Be of sufficient quantity to notify all users of the lot of the parking restrictions; and
- Include the name and telephone number of the local law enforcement agency which is to be notified of a tow.
- This section does not apply:
- If the owner or person in lawful possession of private property, or the designated agent of the owner or person in lawful possession of the property, has entered into a written contract with the owner of the vehicle which describes the circumstances under which a vehicle may be towed;
- If the owner or person in lawful possession of private property, or the designated agent of an owner or person in lawful possession of the property, requests that the vehicle be towed because it is parked in a “no parking” area, such as a marked fire lane, red zone, travel lane of a roadway, driveway, lawn or any other area commonly recognized as a “no parking” area;
- To the towing of a vehicle at the direction of a peace officer; or
- To the towing of a vehicle from an unimproved area or an area where no sign is displayed if a notice has been posted on the vehicle for not less than 24 hours.
- As used in this section, “staff of the Authority” means persons employed by the Authority.
(Added to NAC by Pub. Service Comm’n, eff. 9-16-92; A by Transportation Serv. Auth. by R071-98, 10-28-98)
The Nevada Transportation Authority recommends filing a complaint so they can launch an investigation.
