Knoxville apartment complex tows broken-down car for backing into spot

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A disabled Knoxville woman’s car was towed from her apartment because it was parked in the wrong direction. The wrecker service came after dark and towed cars that were illegally parked.

In East Knoxville at the Morningside Gardens apartment complex, there are new rules about parking vehicles. Residents are required to pull straight in, so the parking permit is visible in the rear window, but when unexpected circumstances happen, there’s no forgiveness.

Karen Workman has been having car troubles since August 12. Her Pontiac Vibe goes nowhere.

“It doesn’t start, won’t crank up, won’t do nothing. Just the light will come on it,” said Workman.

She said the car first died when she pulled into BJ’s Food Mart on East Magnolia on August 12. Her friend eventually got the car started and drove it a short distance to Morningside Gardens Apartments where Workman lives. Once in the parking lot, he backed into an empty space.

“I told him we’re not supposed to do that,” said Workman. “I knew, but he didn’t know.”

Cars are supposed to be pulled in at Morningside Apartments so the tow company can see the sticker in the back window. However, when the friend tried to start the car, it died again.

“He backs it in so that it is easier to work on. She tells him, ‘Hey, you can’t back in. We have to pull it in.’ At that point, she can’t start it,” said Chatty Cannon, Workman’s daughter.

With the car pulled into the spot the wrong way and unable to start, away it went into the dark of the night.

“About midnight they tow my mother’s car along with two to three other vehicles,” said Cannon.

The driver from Floyd’s Wrecker Service visited the parking lot long after Workman had gone to bed. The management at Morningside Gardens in January warned residents about the new parking rules that vehicles must be pulled in so residents’ permits in the back window are visible.

“I’ve been here eight years. We could always park the way we wanted to over here. All of a sudden they act like it is a gated community and we got to park a certain way. We have to pull in. Can’t have a broken window or they’ll tow your car. Can’t have a flat tire or they’ll tow your car. It’s getting ridiculous over here,” said Workman.

Her car was towed by Floyd’s Wrecker Service to their South Knoxville lot where it sat overnight. However, a manager told 6 News that the warning signs are clearly visible and residents were informed how to properly park their cars. An email from Floyd’s says “We are under contract to tow illegally parked vehicles from Morningside Gardens. We patrol 24/7. The City Council sets our rates for these services.”

The receipt from Floyd’s said, “has sticker (referring to the parking permit) but vehicle backed in.” To recover her car, Workman had to pay $93.

“Not right at all, especially when, these are elderly residents. Most of them are on fixed incomes,” said Cannon.

For Workman, $93 is a big chunk out of her monthly fixed income. 6 News was told that people who do not live at Morningside Gardens were parking their vehicles where residents park. So, the new rule of pulling straight in was incorporated, so the parking permit on the back window would be visible to the tow company.

Unfortunately, the circumstances for Workman were unusual. When she couldn’t start her car to turn it around, and it just so happened a week ago, that the wrecker service paid a visit. Monday afternoon, Workman said she still couldn’t get her car started, but it is pulled in the right way.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.