While a public towing system could curb predatory practices, most municipalities avoid it. The logistical challenges of acquiring land for impound lots, buying trucks, and staffing the operation represent significant financial and administrative burdens that cities prefer to offload to the private sector.
Instead of relying on business owners, some towing firms pay local residents kickbacks to watch parking lots. These "spotters" instantly report illegally parked cars, creating a highly efficient, hyper-local surveillance system that maximizes the number of vehicles they can seize.
A former driver describes evolving from a remorseless teenager to an adult who "hated it every day." The constant confrontations and the act of victimizing vulnerable people eroded his passion for the work, revealing the psychological burden placed on employees inside exploitative business models.
In private property impounds (PPIs), the industry's least regulated sector, a driver can seize a car and simply call the police to report it. This enters the car into a system to prevent it from being reported stolen, but lacks any process to confirm the tow was legitimate, enabling widespread abuse.
A common predatory tactic is to use the calendar day as the billing unit. If a car is towed at 11 PM and the owner arrives at 1 AM, the company can legally charge for two full days of storage, despite the car being impounded for only a couple of hours across midnight.
Predatory towers may prefer junky-looking cars, assuming the owners have less cash on hand. When owners inevitably fail to pay the escalating fees, the tow company can legally seize the car, selling it at auction or for parts, creating a second, often more lucrative, revenue stream.