Car towed from private property in Jamaica
Your car got towed from a lot or apartment complex in Jamaica. Here is what New York City law actually requires before that is allowed.
What New York law says
A tow from a private lot or a blocked driveway in New York City is not the same thing as an NYPD parking tow or a Sheriff scofflaw tow. It is a private tow regulated by the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection under Administrative Code sections 19-169.1 and 20-496, and the operator has to hold a DCWP towing business license to do it at all. That license comes with rules the operator must follow, and several of them are worth real money to you if they were broken: a capped rate, a hard signage standard, a limit on how far the car can be taken, and a rule that the operator must unhook the vehicle if you arrive before it is removed.
How it works in Jamaica
- 1 Confirm it was a private tow, not a city or Sheriff tow
A car taken off a public street is usually an NYPD parking tow or a Sheriff scofflaw tow, not this. The DCWP private-tow rules cover vehicles taken from private property, such as a lot, an apartment complex or a blocked driveway, by a licensed towing business.
- 2 Look at the signs
Under Administrative Code 19-169.1 and DCWP Rule 6 section 2-377 there must be a conspicuous sign at each entrance and along the perimeter no more than 250 feet apart, at least 12 by 18 inches, with the top 6 to 8 feet above the ground and luminescent for night visibility, stating the operator's name, address and phone, the redemption hours, the fees, and the hours towing is allowed.
- 3 Use the hookup rule
If you arrive before the vehicle is removed and it is already connected to the tow apparatus, Administrative Code 19-169.1 says it must be disconnected. If the operator refuses and removes it anyway, note the time and what was said.
- 4 Check the distance
The vehicle has to be stored within city limits and no more than 10 miles from where it was removed. A car taken to a lot outside the city or well beyond that radius is a problem you can raise.
- 5 Check the rate
A licensed operator may charge up to $125 for removal plus the first three days of storage, then $15 a day, and a drop or hookup fee of $62.50 if you return before the vehicle is removed. Anything charged above those caps is a violation.
- 6 Complain to DCWP through 311
The city licenses these operators under Administrative Code 20-496, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection takes complaints about signage, overcharging, the hookup rule and unlicensed operators. File through 311, and keep your receipt and any photos of the lot and its signs.
What this looks like around Jamaica
Queens has more surface parking than the denser boroughs, so private-lot enforcement around shopping centers, diners and apartment complexes in Flushing, Jackson Heights and Jamaica is common. The hookup rule under Administrative Code 19-169.1 is the one to know: if you arrive before the vehicle is removed and it is already connected to the tow apparatus, the operator must disconnect it. Storage is capped and the car must stay within 10 miles of where it was taken.
Jamaica is a major transit hub and one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Queens, built where the Van Wyck Expressway runs down to JFK and the LIRR, the subway and the AirTrain all meet at Jamaica Center. The Van Wyck carries constant airport traffic and the breakdowns and crash work that come with chronic gridlock, the transit hub draws commuter illegal-parking enforcement, and Jamaica and Sutphin Avenues run loading violations. A city tow follows the published $185 fee and $20-a-night storage in the Queens pound at College Point. Spanish-language calls are common here and are handled in Spanish.
Common Jamaica questions
Is it legal to tow my car from a parking lot in Jamaica?
Yes, when it is done by a business that holds a New York City DCWP towing license and the lot meets the signage requirements in Administrative Code 19-169.1 and DCWP Rule 6 section 2-377. An unlicensed tow, or a tow from a lot without compliant signs, is exactly what you can complain about.
Does a lot have to post a sign before towing in Jamaica?
Yes, and the standard is specific. Under DCWP Rule 6 section 2-377 there must be a conspicuous sign at each entrance and along the perimeter no more than 250 feet apart, at least 12 by 18 inches, top 6 to 8 feet above the ground and luminescent for night visibility, stating the operator's name, address and phone, the redemption hours, the fees and the tow-prohibited hours. Ask whether that lot's signs meet it.
What if I show up before the tow truck leaves in Jamaica?
Under the hookup rule in Administrative Code 19-169.1, if you arrive before the vehicle is removed and it is already connected to the tow apparatus, it must be disconnected. If the operator returns before the car is gone, the regulated drop fee is $62.50 rather than the full removal charge.
Does Quick Tow NYC do private-property tows in Jamaica?
We are not a DCWP-licensed towing business and we do not pretend to be. What we do is connect property managers with licensed operators who follow the city rules, and help drivers work out what actually happened to their vehicle. Call (929) 356-7857.
Related help for Jamaica
Private-property tows in the rest of the Queens area
Need your car towed once it's released in Jamaica?
We can't waive the yard's fees. We can line up an operator the moment it clears.