Is San Francisco taking car-theft victims for a ride?

[ZLoth]

From SF Gate:

Is San Francisco taking car-theft victims for a ride?

Each year, roughly 2,000 stolen cars are towed off San Francisco's city streets and stowed at the private Auto Return parking lot. When the police call and say they have found the car, the owner is relieved - until he or she gets to the parking lot.

That's when a familiar melodrama plays out:

Car owner: "Hi, I'm here to get my car."

Auto Return: "Certainly. That will be $500."

Car owner: "WHAT? But my car was STOLEN!"

Auto Return: "Sorry, that's the law."

Sadly, that is the law.

"It's like if somebody stole your purse and then there's a $150 fee for using lost and found," says David LaBua, who wrote a book about parking in San Francisco. "You car is stolen, you're traumatized, and you're thinking, 'What? I'm the victim here.' "

FULL ARTICLE HERE