There's a tow sticker on my secondary car, which I am trying to sell?

[dallen47]

I live in Michigan.

I reside in an apartment complex.

There is a new manager - which I was not made aware of until I stopped by the office today to complain about a tow sticker appearing on my secondary vehicle.

My secondary vehicle is registered with the apartment complex, however the license plate was removed a week or so ago because I am trying to sell the vehicle and someone was supposed to come by and buy it - which they did not. I move the vehicle every couple of days (change parking spots). There is no assigned parking here - therefore no window stickers.

The secondary vehicle runs, does not have flat tires, and is in decent shape. It is parked right outside of my front window.

I stopped into the office to complain about the tow sticker and was told that if I put the license plate back on, there should be no problems. The tabs on the plate are expired. I do not want to re-register a car that I am in the process of selling. I had new tabs for it, but those got lost and I do not want to go pay for new ones when there is the possibility that someone may come buy and purchase it the next day.

So, my question is - if I put the plate back on and the car is still towed due to the expired tabs, even after talking to the apartment manager about it - do I have legal recourse?

The law in Michigan states:

A vehicle may be considered abandoned when it is:

* On private property without the owner's consent, or
* On public property, including county roads and city streets, for at least 48 hours, or
* On a state road or highway (e.g., M-99, U.S. 23, I-96) for at least 18 hours if a valid license plate is on the vehicle, or
* On a state road or highway for any period of time if a valid license plate is not on the vehicle.

I am violating none of those.


Also, a vehicle removed under the following conditions is considered abandoned if not redeemed by the owner within seven days:

* Parked or idling on the highway so that it creates an immediate public hazard or an obstruction of traffic.
* Parked in a posted tow-away zone.
* A threat to public safety because its presence impedes rescue efforts during fire, flood, storm, snow, natural or man-made disaster or other emergency.
* Hampering the use of private property by the owner or person in charge of that property or is parked in a manner which impedes the movement of another vehicle.
* Illegally stopped, idling or parked in a designated disability parking space.
* Located in a clearly identified access aisle or access lane immediately adjacent to a disability parking space.
* Interfering with the use of a ramp or a curb-cut by people with disabilities.

I am also not violating any of those.


So, what is the big deal?

I just moved the car YESTERDAY, in fact. It is now sitting 3 spaces down from where it was yesterday.

The manager told me, "Well, I've just seen it sitting in that vicinity for a while."

Well, vicinity is not THE SAME SPOT. I'VE MOVED IT.

Therefore the annoying and hard to remove bright orange sticker was unnecessary. Gee, that really looks good on a car I AM TRYING TO SELL.

[vemados]

A) Your car will not be "towed" because the current year plate sticker is missing. If your car was on the public streets, it would receive a warning ticket from a parking warden. If your car was on the public streets, and was reported as "abandoned" within a fortnight, the tow trucks would come and take it away. Please put your plate back on and do not remove because you are interested in selling the car. It is suspect to remove the license plates, and I would be peeved with you myself for doing such a silly thing. Nowhere, does it tell you to remove plates. It just looks suspicious.

[aescby]

No you have no legal recourse because the tags are expired, if you read your contract it will say something along the lines that all vehicles that are not in driving condition will be towed, yours is not due to the tags. You state that you are not violating any of the State highway rules but did you read your lease because you are in violation of that.