BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Drivers whose cars were towed during this weekend's crawfish boil are still upset and many are saying that they were victims of a parking scheme.
According to B& G towing 70 to 80 cars were parked on a lot near 7th avenue north and 22nd streets in downtown Birmingham.
The lot is on private property and owned by the Park Place Apartment complex.
Drivers who were towed by B&G had to pay $200.00 in cash to get their cars back.
When NBC 13 HD News crews visited the lot on Monday there were no cars parked on the lot. However, that was not the case Friday night when Nathan Barnes stopped by.

We parked there and saw other folk parking there and when we walked back, there was a bunch of cars were towed, said Barnes.

Like many, Barnes was heading to the annual crawfish boil downtown to hear bands play. With parking scarce, Barnes said he had to find a parking space; so he droved by the lot located on the corner of 22nd street north and 7th avenue and saw that it was packed with cars. There was also a visible sign made out of white sheet paper and black lettering that read crawfish boil parking . Barnes said his girlfriend saw a man acting like a parking attendant who charged drivers to use the lot. So like many others he parked, but did not pay because he was not approached by an attendant when he entered the lot.

With everything that was going on the whole situation looked legitimate, said Barnes.

There were other signs posted that stated the lot is private and owned by Park Place Apartments. Not wanting to go on camera, the apartment manger Cheryl Stoffregen said she did have violators towed by companies like B&G Towing and did not authorize anyone to use the lot. Though this information is not comforting to folks who were towed like Barnes, he admits he should have been more careful.

I could have chosen to park somewhere else or look at the lot more in-depth .I would call it an unfortunate circumstance, said Barnes.


Whether it was an unfortunate event or a scheme that cost folks lots of money, many are looking for answers.

NBC 13 HD News checked with the Birmingham City Police Department and there are now looking into the matter.
As for the lot, Park Place s Apartment Manager says the grassy portion of the lot was damaged when by those who parked on the soft groud. Initial estimates suggest that will cost roughly two to four thousand dollars to repair the damages.The manager adds that overall this is simply an unfortunate incident for all involved.

User Responses
From: liveinparkplace	Date: 05/07/2008
It seems to me that Park Place is a victim. Lets all keep in mind that the property was damaged as shown on chanl 13 news. People were blocked in by cars and being a resident myself I could not get out of my lot. If we are being fair and not just speeking out of hate due to dilike for someone and a community.
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/07/2008
A maintenance worker with the Birmingham Parking Authority was arrested and fired after he illegally allowed people to park at a lot owned by the managers of the Park Place housing community, the executive director of the authority said today. The worker, who has not been publicly identified, charged people to park at the lot, at the intersection of 22nd Street and Seventh Avenue North, on Friday night during the Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil. Many people returned that evening to find their cars towed and some reported paying $200 to retrieve their cars from an impound lot. Executive Director Lynn Thomas said the worker was on-duty and using a parking authority vehicle at the time. He had been employed by the BPA for several years, Thomas said. The employee was arrested Friday night and fired Monday morning, Thomas said. "He had no business going on private property. We have zero tolerance for stealing," Thomas said. Taken from Al.com
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/08/2008
Yes, but it still shows that Park Place Appartments working with B & G Towing making lots of money off of people/victims.
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/08/2008
Well lets see, lets do the math. Lets say 75 cars X $200.00 = $15,000.00. Now I can guess that half went to B & G and the other to Park Place. That should around $7,500.00. That's good money for one day. Not to mention all of the money made from other downtown events. Oh, my grass is messed up. I'm trying not to laugh.
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/11/2008
SERIOUSLY! Park Place damages estimated to be 4,000??? for some new laid sod? are you kidding me? who estimated that? The manager? Haha. Even so, if that's the estimate, I'm sure that leaves a hefty leftover amount for "someone" to pocket. hmmmm...same ole same ole at Park Place.
From: hardincah	Date: 08/13/2008
OK lets do even more math lets say the apartment owner pockets a couple of thousand and cost several people $200.00. I had a new maxima parked in that lot that got damaged while in "tow". B&G offered $30 to settle, I had a estimate done for $800. We finally settled over $500, but i have yet to see that money (check my posted date). So for many it only costed $200 and for others it costed that plus body damage! I witnessed a new mazda get pulled into B&G parking lot scrubbing the exhaust tips. I went to the car with my cousin using the light from my cell phone and yep they also recieved damage to the tips and bumper.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/27/2009
Not only do I live in Park Place (trying my best to leave, awful place to live) but my son and I walked to the Crawfish boil this year 09, and I saw with my own eyes, the property manager and one guy from maintenance taking payments for people to park in that lot. On our way back home, I saw the same towing company towing cars. Now how is that fair for her to take people money, then have them towed. Just like her management skills, crooked and unprofessional. Someone should have sued. I would have.
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/01/2009
call sherrel Stewart at the Bham News if you or someone you know has had a problem with Park Place Apts at 325-2445.

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