Someone should investigate the towing companies in Alexandria, VA. The Alexandria Code sets a maximum fee of $75 for involuntary tows from private property, but A-1 Towing Companies (aka A-1 Associates, LLC) charges $150 to tow. They also tow without signs posted, and damage vehicles. And the city police don't know the city laws, so they don't enforce it--even though there is a criminal fine associated with violations. Many people have sued them and won, but most don't and so it is financially lucrative for them. Big problem in Alexandria, VA.

When I read this story, I huge smile came across my face. I, too, had a run in with the crocks at Youngins. My situation was simular to Fwzimmer. I just wish I would have known about the hearing so I could have testified. It has been over five years, but the situation is just as vivid to me today as it was 5 years ago. I protested and sent letters to the DC Mayor's office, to Vincent Orange (then Ward 5 council member) and all through out the Ward 5 community. Not only did I live in Ward 5, but the towing yard was also in my Ward and I tried my best to get it shut down in 2002. I just pray that he is not able to open up a business under a different name and start the cycle again. The DC government did something good/right with this decision. I have to laugh at the comment in the story that he made about him being the victim. Not only should he have to refund everyone he has stolen from (I still have all my paperwork from 2002), but the IRS should put out a notice to anyone that has been towed by youngin for an investigation.

Its finally about time the gov't really do something about these thieves. All they do is prey. I would hope VA goes after that Henry's tow too. Bunch of rip-off artists.

fszwimmer i am so sorry that happened to you. this is awful. i am glad that this company was caught and i hope they get shut down forever. i always thought these companies were scams anyhow.. just another way to rip us off! jbonesmd i dont get your comment.

thanks spareme for the insight. i try to avoid being towed at all cost because i dont trust the towing company or the drivers. they drive around like sharks just waiting for somene to make a costly mistake..... you know how you double park and run in the house to drop off your groceries or you park in the wrong spot by accident or forget to put up your handicapped sticker.. they really prey on these errors..

Back in the day I was a night dispatcher at a tow lot...and it was INTERESTING. I still have friends in the business. BY LAW the tow company must call and report the tow to the police before they pull off with your car. This does not happen. They usually get back to the lot and then call.

If by chance you park and come back and your car is gone...CALL THE POLICE. The police can tell you who towed it and the address and phone number to the company. In the event the car has not been reported by the tow company will get fined...once they finally call it in.

As for Youngin's...they are criminals...and have been for YEARS. We had a car to pick up from them (one tow company to another tow company). We got to their lot by the time we finished waiting for them to find the car "their price" had went up $300. How is that possible.

What they should do is relocate to Prince George's County,the garden spot of Maryland.

This company cheat lies and steals. They are schemers. They tow your car even if your not even illegally parked. They are SCUM BAGS.

Roughly 4 years ago my car was towed from downtown NW DC to this nightmare location. My wife I met for dinner prior to me driving to Pittsburgh that night. When we came out of the restaurant a Youngins truck was backing up to hook up and tow my car. The driver would not back down from my request to let us go, gave me a Youngins "card" with address and tel number etc. In my wifes car we followed behind my car and the tow truck back to the Youngins SE location. At 7:30pm when we got to the Youngins yard my car was kept on the tow truck and driven to the back of the yard. When I got to the desk I was told that I would have to wait until the driver turned in his paperwork. After about 15 min of waiting I was told that I would have to wait outside the gate and that they close at 8PM and I would have to come back tomorrow. (So he could charge me another day of storage) I became somewhat agravated and was told that I made a racial insult. This was totally untrue. Fortunately the DC Police has a substation about a block away and my wife and I flagged down a passing police car to help us with this escalating issue. One of the officers went inside and had to negoiate with these scoundrals to have my car released. It was at which time we were apprised that we would have to give them $210 in CASH! In my 53 years I can not remember such an injustice on me as a person. The owner of Youngins should not only loose his license, but be put in jail. He is a criminal who has made a career of preying on DC's lax towing regulations. He should also be made to pay back me and all the other towed vehicles at his extorsionary rates. I filed multiple compliants to the DC government who acknowledged that Youngins was a problem but there was no action.