DA Settles Lawsuit With Towing Company Accused of Illegally Removing Cars in Redwood City

A Redwood City towing company accused of illegally towing vehicles in San Mateo County settled out of court and will be paying restitution to hundreds of consumers. 

The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office filed a lawsuit in February 2013 against Isabel Trujillo, owner of Specialty Towing and Recovery, which was based at 2666 Middlefield Road in Redwood City, California.

Trujillo was accused of billing more than 300 people excessive fees for towing their cars in a way that required special equipment, Deputy District Attorney Chuck Finney told Patch. Equipment surcharges are illegal in San Mateo County, Finney said.  The special equipment was a dolly.

Trujillo is further suspected of illegally towing vehicles from private, reserved parking lots without the permission of the property owners, Finney said. Finney said customers who reclaimed their cars were not provided required documents that explained they had the right to contact the local police department if it was suspected that the vehicle was towed illegally. 

The terms of the settlement, which come with no legal admissions of wrongdoing or findings of guilt, require that the towing company comply with all towing laws in the future. It also requires that the company pay $42,330 in consumer restitution and civil penalties.  People who are eligible to receive those payments will be contacted by the DA’s office when the towing company gives the county the money.