ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A family's car was mistakenly towed by the Florida Highway Patrol after it was dropped off at a repair shop.
The family was nearly forced to pay $1,000 to get it's car back, until 9 Investigates started asking questions.
Joe Rifenburg was in Clearwater when he got a call telling him his teenage daughter was involved in a crash after leaving Universal Orlando. The impact damaged the front end of the family car.
"There wasn't a scratch on anyone," Rifenburg said.
The family had the car towed to Caliber Collision, and it was left just outside the gate on a side road because it was after hours.
"It literally took phone calls for a week to try and find it," Rifenburg said.
He said he thought the car had been stolen.
The family tried through email and phone calls for more than a month to get the mistake cleared up.
They called 9 Investigates after Rifenburg said he received a call from the state trooper who mistakenly had the car towed.
"'They're keeping your car.' And he goes, "Even my Captain can't get them to release the car,'" Rifenburg said.
However, FHP policy requires troopers wait 48 hours before towing vehicles from side roads, and six hours if they're left on the highway. And the cars must be tagged with a red notice.
"We've gotten with Ace Wrecker. The bill has been taken care of for the family," Sgt. Montes told 9 Investigates.
The money comes from a fund that FHP has to tow abandoned vehicles.
Rifenburg and his daughter are happy to have their car back, but wonder if they're the only victims of an accidental tow.
"I wonder how many people put their hands up in the air, and said, 'How much is it? This is BS, but here's $300, $400, here's $1,000,'" said Rifenburg.
FHP officials said it has happened in the past, but not often. And 9 Investigates was told FHP always covers the towing costs when the agency makes a mistake like the one they made with the Rifenburgs' car.
WFTV
