As we read on the Statens vegvesen website, many people may experience that their car is towed away after being parked incorrectly. What rights do you have in this case?
– Those who want to tow your car cannot do so without notifying you first. You should have Possibility to move the car yourself, says Halgeir Jansen from the parking supervision of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
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Norwegian Public Roads Authority receives information from time to time that valet or towing companies refuse to hand over vehicles until towing and other costs are paid. Please be aware that such companies no longer have the right to impound vehicles.
– When it was introduced in 2017 regulations regarding parking, they lost the right to stop vehicles. Parking companies and towing companies are now obliged to hand over the vehicle without having to incur removal costs or possible parking fines (control sanctions), says Halgeir Jansen.
Then you need to collect towing costs and parking fines.
Two exceptions
There are two exceptions to the rule. If you owe more than 6000 to the same company crowns for unpaid parking fines (control sanctions), then the vehicle may be impounded.
The vehicle may also be impounded if it has been removed in accordance with the Act traffic, and removal was requested by the police, the municipality or the Norwegian Public Roads Authority.
Parking companies or towing companies refer to outdated regulations
Many encounter resistance when they demand the release of the vehicle.
– We have seen that parking companies or towing companies refer to outdated regulations and old judgments. Then it would be good to know the provision in the parking regulations (§ 40, first paragraph), says Halgeir Jansen:
"A motor vehicle that has been removed shall be delivered to the owner or a person acting on his behalf upon request, even if the removal costs incurred or the inspection sanctions imposed have not been paid."
Both the person who ordered the removal of the vehicle and the person who removed the vehicle are required to document why the vehicle had to be removed. Such documentation can be, for example, a photo. They must also provide the authorization they used to remove the vehicle.
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Council of the Norwegian Public Roads Authority
– If it happened to you that yours the car was illegally removed or impounded with a payment request? We will be happy to receive guidance on this from you by email [email protected] says Halgeir Jansen.
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Source: Norwegian Public Roads Authority, Photo: pixabay
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