Cajon Pass fire victims outraged about $1,600 towing fees: 'I didn't do anything illegal' [View all]

[Liberal_in_LA]

laura Caro thought the fire on the freeway in the Cajon Pass was bad. And then she got the bill for leaving her vehicle there.

Caro was driving her 80-year-old mother home from a doctor's appointment Friday when the North fire spread to Interstate 15 and started burning vehicles. On officers' orders, she left her SUV and fled, pushing her mom in a wheelchair through a smoky maze of stopped cars and frightened people.

Strangers gave them a lift, and Caro left her Ford Escape behind. When the Fontana resident went to get it from Gonzalez Tow in Hesperia, she was shocked: The company charged her $1,600, she said.

"It was just a nightmare," Caro said. "I didn't do anything illegal to have my car towed."

It was just a nightmare. I didn't do anything illegal to have my car towed.
- Laura Caro, who fled her vehicle during the fire
California Highway Patrol officials said Monday they were investigating numerous complaints about high towing fees from drivers who had to abandon their cars and flee for safety.

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0721-fire-tow-20150721-story.html

Gonzalez Tow's Facebook page was plastered during the weekend with comments about the fees, calling employees "thieves" and "bullies" and saying the company took advantage of victims.