Last weekend, my partner and I drove from Portland to one of our favorite day-trip spots, Moulton Falls. Once the sun started to set, we headed back to our car to find we had been towed by the sheriff’s department, and we were stranded. Two young women in the middle of the forest, an hour away from home and friends, daylight and strangers around us dwindling.
Uber didn’t have a driver for us to connect to. Our friends wouldn’t have arrived until dark. AAA told us they couldn’t help us.
The sheriff’s office endangered our safety. We were on the blunt side of a no-parking arrow between about five other cars. I believe I was parked legally. But if I made a mistake, give me a ticket. Make it hefty. Make me learn my lesson. Putting us in danger is not how you protect the community.
The tow-truck driver told us at impound that the sheriff’s office had been “aiming for 20 cars” that day. Reckless, predatory and dangerous behavior from law enforcement.
And a nearly $500 towing fine is a really great way to make sure I never step foot again in Clark County to spend more money.
