Audi S4 Towed with no wheels on it. Story, with vid
12-06-2008 | 07:56 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 927
Likes: 64
From: Baltimore, MD
Audi S4 Towed with no wheels on it. Story, with vid
WASHINGTON - A D.C. family is saying there is a good reason why their vandalized car shouldn't have been towed.
The dilemma for Chris Thompson and her husband Mike started on Thanksgiving morning when they noticed the wheels and tires on their Audi had been stolen and the car was sitting on cinder blocks. Five days later, after filing a police report and while waiting for the new parts to come in, the city took matters into its own hands.
Earlier this week, a tow truck contracted by the Department of Public Works (DPW) dragged a $70,000 dollar car to an impound lot.
"They dragged the car with a cinder block underneath it," said Thompson. "It made me sick."
Now, Thompson is outraged, claiming the damage is estimated at $20,000. "They couldn't have run our tags, they couldn't have found us," said Thompson. "They didn't try anything."
Neighbor Melvin Peterson initially reported the car to police last week. "I was concerned that maybe it was a stolen vehicle being stripped," Peterson said.
Days later, Peterson watched as it was taken away. "When the vehicle pulled out I said, they just did a serious amount of damage to this man's car."
An official with DPW said the car was given a $250 ticket and towed because it was deemed "too dangerous to be on public space".
The Capitol Hill couple, however, said no one ever notified them they were in violation. They claim they still haven't been able to talk to anyone other than a receptionist at the office.
"I was practically in tears when I got handed $250 ticket, I had to pay $120 at the impound for a car that was already vandalized," said Thompson.
VID:
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/120...?ref=newsstory
The dilemma for Chris Thompson and her husband Mike started on Thanksgiving morning when they noticed the wheels and tires on their Audi had been stolen and the car was sitting on cinder blocks. Five days later, after filing a police report and while waiting for the new parts to come in, the city took matters into its own hands.
Earlier this week, a tow truck contracted by the Department of Public Works (DPW) dragged a $70,000 dollar car to an impound lot.
"They dragged the car with a cinder block underneath it," said Thompson. "It made me sick."
Now, Thompson is outraged, claiming the damage is estimated at $20,000. "They couldn't have run our tags, they couldn't have found us," said Thompson. "They didn't try anything."
Neighbor Melvin Peterson initially reported the car to police last week. "I was concerned that maybe it was a stolen vehicle being stripped," Peterson said.
Days later, Peterson watched as it was taken away. "When the vehicle pulled out I said, they just did a serious amount of damage to this man's car."
An official with DPW said the car was given a $250 ticket and towed because it was deemed "too dangerous to be on public space".
The Capitol Hill couple, however, said no one ever notified them they were in violation. They claim they still haven't been able to talk to anyone other than a receptionist at the office.
"I was practically in tears when I got handed $250 ticket, I had to pay $120 at the impound for a car that was already vandalized," said Thompson.
VID:
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/120...?ref=newsstory
12-06-2008 | 08:22 PM
#4
Senior Moderator
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,085
Likes: 740
From: Brooklyn, NY USA
Whiskey
Tango
Foxtrot
WTF?????????
This is also pretty WTF related....
http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...ivered/?page=1
All too often, the congested roads of Greater Boston conspire with the vagaries of childbirth to leave a mother-to-be in a car on the roadside at one of life's most critical moments. A hard-bitten state trooper shows up and morphs into a highway midwife, clearing the newborn's nose and mouth, cutting the cord, and sometimes even saving a life.
This is not one of those stories.
Jennifer Davis was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Nov. 18, her contractions just 3 minutes apart. Her husband, John, was trying to appear calm for his wife's sake, driving in the breakdown lane of Route 2. They pulled up behind a state trooper to ask whether they could continue using the lane to reach the next exit, near Alewife Station.
Not only did the trooper say no, he gave them a $100 citation for driving in the breakdown lane, made them wait for their citation while he finished writing someone else's ticket, and even seemed to ask for proof of pregnancy, Jennifer Davis said.
"He said, 'What's under your jacket?' I said, 'My belly,' " Davis said. "He waited and gestured with his head like, 'OK, let's see it.' He waited for me to unzip my jacket. I mean, it was so clear that I was pregnant."
The Davises say the contretemps occurred after two other troopers they encountered had waved them along in the highway breakdown lane, allowing them to evade gridlock while advising them to be cautious and keep their hazard lights on.
While State Police spokesman David Procopio declined to comment on the merits of this stop, he noted that state law prohibits driving in breakdown lanes on Route 2.
"The trooper made a judgment call to enforce the law governing the use of the breakdown lane," said Procopio. "If the couple does choose to submit a letter of complaint, we'll review it in accordance with our procedure."
The officer who gave the citation - Trooper Michael Galluccio of the Brighton barracks, according to his identification number - could not immediately be reached for comment.
Though the Davises live about 30 miles away in Dracut, Jennifer Davis, 38, wanted to have her baby at Mount Auburn, where she had also given birth to her 7-year-old son, Brendan.
"For 10 months we had been saying, 'As long as I don't go into labor during rush hour' - which we did," said Davis, a social worker for a visiting nurse group affiliated with the hospital.
They left for Cambridge after dropping Brendan off at school. Her contractions were about 5 minutes apart.
But the roads were so clogged that John Davis began using the breakdown lane. Davis - whose driving record has six speeding violations over the past 20 years, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles - said he tried to get troopers' permission to use the emergency lanes when they encountered them along their journey.Continued...
On Route 3, he pulled over and told a trooper that his wife was in labor. The trooper said they could use the breakdown lane only when traffic was backed up and only while using their hazard lights. On Route 128, they got stopped by a second trooper who allowed them to continue in the breakdown lane after noticing the infant car seat in the back of their Honda Accord and the mother's condition.
"I know people fabricate stories all the time," Jennifer Davis said, "but it was pretty clear that I was in labor."
Once on Route 2, they pulled up behind the trooper who ultimately cited them, who was attending to a car in the emergency lane.
He asked at least twice if they wanted an ambulance, but they declined, Jennifer Davis said. "I told him, 'My contractions are about 3 minutes apart. We just want to get off this exit.' We thought it would save us a little time."
State Police policy discourages the use of police escorts for private vehicles, except in life-or-death situations, Procopio said. But for a misguided moment, when the trooper left their car to finish up with the other motorist, John Davis hoped that the officer would come back to help them through traffic.
"Ironically, I was relieved to see the police. I thought, 'Oh cool, he'll help us,' " said John Davis. "He made it worse. He held us up."
The citation cost them 5 or 10 agonizing minutes before the trooper handed them an envelope and told them they'd be getting something in the mail. The citation came this week. In hindsight, the couple believe the trooper was trying to save them time by mailing the citation, rather than making them wait while he wrote it up.
Jennifer Davis was already deep into labor when they made it to the hospital, but it turns out they had time to spare. Charlotte Jane was born about five hours after their traffic stop, with a birth announcement that made the rounds of the maternity ward.
Said Jennifer Davis, "Our story spread like wildfire."
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
Tango
Foxtrot
WTF?????????
This is also pretty WTF related....
http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...ivered/?page=1
All too often, the congested roads of Greater Boston conspire with the vagaries of childbirth to leave a mother-to-be in a car on the roadside at one of life's most critical moments. A hard-bitten state trooper shows up and morphs into a highway midwife, clearing the newborn's nose and mouth, cutting the cord, and sometimes even saving a life.
This is not one of those stories.
Jennifer Davis was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Nov. 18, her contractions just 3 minutes apart. Her husband, John, was trying to appear calm for his wife's sake, driving in the breakdown lane of Route 2. They pulled up behind a state trooper to ask whether they could continue using the lane to reach the next exit, near Alewife Station.
Not only did the trooper say no, he gave them a $100 citation for driving in the breakdown lane, made them wait for their citation while he finished writing someone else's ticket, and even seemed to ask for proof of pregnancy, Jennifer Davis said.
"He said, 'What's under your jacket?' I said, 'My belly,' " Davis said. "He waited and gestured with his head like, 'OK, let's see it.' He waited for me to unzip my jacket. I mean, it was so clear that I was pregnant."
The Davises say the contretemps occurred after two other troopers they encountered had waved them along in the highway breakdown lane, allowing them to evade gridlock while advising them to be cautious and keep their hazard lights on.
While State Police spokesman David Procopio declined to comment on the merits of this stop, he noted that state law prohibits driving in breakdown lanes on Route 2.
"The trooper made a judgment call to enforce the law governing the use of the breakdown lane," said Procopio. "If the couple does choose to submit a letter of complaint, we'll review it in accordance with our procedure."
The officer who gave the citation - Trooper Michael Galluccio of the Brighton barracks, according to his identification number - could not immediately be reached for comment.
Though the Davises live about 30 miles away in Dracut, Jennifer Davis, 38, wanted to have her baby at Mount Auburn, where she had also given birth to her 7-year-old son, Brendan.
"For 10 months we had been saying, 'As long as I don't go into labor during rush hour' - which we did," said Davis, a social worker for a visiting nurse group affiliated with the hospital.
They left for Cambridge after dropping Brendan off at school. Her contractions were about 5 minutes apart.
But the roads were so clogged that John Davis began using the breakdown lane. Davis - whose driving record has six speeding violations over the past 20 years, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles - said he tried to get troopers' permission to use the emergency lanes when they encountered them along their journey.Continued...
On Route 3, he pulled over and told a trooper that his wife was in labor. The trooper said they could use the breakdown lane only when traffic was backed up and only while using their hazard lights. On Route 128, they got stopped by a second trooper who allowed them to continue in the breakdown lane after noticing the infant car seat in the back of their Honda Accord and the mother's condition.
"I know people fabricate stories all the time," Jennifer Davis said, "but it was pretty clear that I was in labor."
Once on Route 2, they pulled up behind the trooper who ultimately cited them, who was attending to a car in the emergency lane.
He asked at least twice if they wanted an ambulance, but they declined, Jennifer Davis said. "I told him, 'My contractions are about 3 minutes apart. We just want to get off this exit.' We thought it would save us a little time."
State Police policy discourages the use of police escorts for private vehicles, except in life-or-death situations, Procopio said. But for a misguided moment, when the trooper left their car to finish up with the other motorist, John Davis hoped that the officer would come back to help them through traffic.
"Ironically, I was relieved to see the police. I thought, 'Oh cool, he'll help us,' " said John Davis. "He made it worse. He held us up."
The citation cost them 5 or 10 agonizing minutes before the trooper handed them an envelope and told them they'd be getting something in the mail. The citation came this week. In hindsight, the couple believe the trooper was trying to save them time by mailing the citation, rather than making them wait while he wrote it up.
Jennifer Davis was already deep into labor when they made it to the hospital, but it turns out they had time to spare. Charlotte Jane was born about five hours after their traffic stop, with a birth announcement that made the rounds of the maternity ward.
Said Jennifer Davis, "Our story spread like wildfire."
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
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12-06-2008 | 09:24 PM
#12
Cops are friggin' retarded and so is the city.
about 10 years ago, the rims were stolen off my integra and my car was sitting on cinder blocks. i only had the spare, otherwise I would of put the car on at least two wheels and had it towed somewhere.
the idiot, power tripping officer was determined to threaten me over and over again all day. came by twice and threatened if the car wasn't moved, it'd be towed. Of course, I told him, how are you going to tow a car with no wheels to which he obviously figured out he was being and idiot and followed up with, "that's not my problem, fix it now". Another officer came by about 10 minutes later and acknowledged my dilemma and said don't worry about it and knew the officer that was pissy earlier and told me not to worry about him. Luckily a friend came by and I borred his spare and got the car moved to our parking lot and got some new wheels on it the next day.
I have respect for cops, unfortunatley, I'm not scared to say that there are A LOT of cops out there that are in the business because they love the control/power factor.
I feel for this guy, poor S4.
about 10 years ago, the rims were stolen off my integra and my car was sitting on cinder blocks. i only had the spare, otherwise I would of put the car on at least two wheels and had it towed somewhere.
the idiot, power tripping officer was determined to threaten me over and over again all day. came by twice and threatened if the car wasn't moved, it'd be towed. Of course, I told him, how are you going to tow a car with no wheels to which he obviously figured out he was being and idiot and followed up with, "that's not my problem, fix it now". Another officer came by about 10 minutes later and acknowledged my dilemma and said don't worry about it and knew the officer that was pissy earlier and told me not to worry about him. Luckily a friend came by and I borred his spare and got the car moved to our parking lot and got some new wheels on it the next day.
I have respect for cops, unfortunatley, I'm not scared to say that there are A LOT of cops out there that are in the business because they love the control/power factor.
I feel for this guy, poor S4.
12-06-2008 | 09:37 PM
#14
Registered but harmless
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,860
Likes: 1,151
From: Los Angeles, CA
I'm confused, but I think the S4 owners and their insurance rep are morons. Why wasn't the S4 taken directly to a dealer or body shop rather than left on a public street for 5 days? The S4 gets 4 spares or snow rims mounted and plopped onto a flatbed to be stored until the parts come in- that's the responsibility of the insurer and the owners.
Many cities have ordinances against leaving cars in place for more than 72 hours. The other choice was to get the S4 off the street and into a covered garage to await parts.
Idiots all around.
Oh, and the cop who gave the ticket to the pregnant lady is due for a well-deserved dressing down.
Many cities have ordinances against leaving cars in place for more than 72 hours. The other choice was to get the S4 off the street and into a covered garage to await parts.
Idiots all around.
Oh, and the cop who gave the ticket to the pregnant lady is due for a well-deserved dressing down.
except you, 5 series and R8... 
kind of way.
12-06-2008 | 11:53 PM
#20
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 34,937
Likes: 638
From: Chicago Burbs
Oh that just made me cringe!!
They had a police report ON the car even?! Now thats messed up to not even see that and still tow it.
I dont see how it can cause 20k in damage but then again i dont see how an S4 is $70k. Ah the media.
They had a police report ON the car even?! Now thats messed up to not even see that and still tow it.
I dont see how it can cause 20k in damage but then again i dont see how an S4 is $70k. Ah the media.
12-07-2008 | 01:24 AM
#21
Senior Moderator
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,085
Likes: 740
From: Brooklyn, NY USA
12-07-2008 | 04:07 AM
#23
yeah, thats DC for you. i remember, before when they were people's people, if you were parked in a restricted or rush hour zone/lane, they would just tow your car around the block -- happened so many times with me in school. now its a dog-eat-dog. at one point, my car for $800 got towed and impound storage for the time i got back from break was upwards of $1200, so i just left it. epic pwn.
12-07-2008 | 11:27 AM
#25
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,522
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, KY
12-07-2008 | 06:37 PM
#31
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 23,451
Likes: 54
12-07-2008 | 07:24 PM
#33
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,954
Likes: 22
From: SLC, UT
We are all confused.
I would probably never drive the car again, and inform the city that they just purchased my Audi from me when they hooked up to tow...
12-07-2008 | 08:11 PM
#34
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 111
From: NYC
i would be so heartbroken over that i would steer clear of any thing that reminded me of the incident. audi included. call me crazy.
the logic makes sense...
i used to have a Westie that randomly passed away. im currently looking for a new dog, but would never consider getting another westie.
my father used to park good humor trucks @ the storage lot when he was a kid. to this day, he refuses to buy a white car.
dealing with the utmost negligence from the damage of a S4 would turn me away from getting another audi. im sure most S4 owners are infatuated with their rides. or else they would own A4s. having the car screwed around with would really hit home.
the logic makes sense...
i used to have a Westie that randomly passed away. im currently looking for a new dog, but would never consider getting another westie.
my father used to park good humor trucks @ the storage lot when he was a kid. to this day, he refuses to buy a white car.
dealing with the utmost negligence from the damage of a S4 would turn me away from getting another audi. im sure most S4 owners are infatuated with their rides. or else they would own A4s. having the car screwed around with would really hit home.
12-07-2008 | 08:36 PM
#35
i would be so heartbroken over that i would steer clear of any thing that reminded me of the incident. audi included. call me crazy.
the logic makes sense...
i used to have a Westie that randomly passed away. im currently looking for a new dog, but would never consider getting another westie.
my father used to park good humor trucks @ the storage lot when he was a kid. to this day, he refuses to buy a white car.
dealing with the utmost negligence from the damage of a S4 would turn me away from getting another audi. im sure most S4 owners are infatuated with their rides. or else they would own A4s. having the car screwed around with would really hit home.
the logic makes sense...
i used to have a Westie that randomly passed away. im currently looking for a new dog, but would never consider getting another westie.
my father used to park good humor trucks @ the storage lot when he was a kid. to this day, he refuses to buy a white car.
dealing with the utmost negligence from the damage of a S4 would turn me away from getting another audi. im sure most S4 owners are infatuated with their rides. or else they would own A4s. having the car screwed around with would really hit home.
12-07-2008 | 09:17 PM
#37
6spder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 1
From: North Port, FL/Chicago, IL
yea, i just don't see it. the logic doesn't make sense.
if i had this done to my car, i'd get another car just like it and rub it in their faces....
following your logic, 4 years ago when i just got my legend and it was totaled by a semi 3 days later i would have given on it right away and never been where i am today, instead i fixed it and engulped myself into the legend community and all, including 6 Legend coupes and 4 Legend sedans.
edit: another example, my legend was broken into and i had alot of my shit stolen, including, 2 amps, headunit, wallet, 2 pairs of oakley's, and other shit, should i have old my Legend? and never gotten back into it?
okay? how about when i blew the motor in my legend, should i have junked it then? or when i blew the motor in my CL, junk that too?
if i had this done to my car, i'd get another car just like it and rub it in their faces....
following your logic, 4 years ago when i just got my legend and it was totaled by a semi 3 days later i would have given on it right away and never been where i am today, instead i fixed it and engulped myself into the legend community and all, including 6 Legend coupes and 4 Legend sedans.
edit: another example, my legend was broken into and i had alot of my shit stolen, including, 2 amps, headunit, wallet, 2 pairs of oakley's, and other shit, should i have old my Legend? and never gotten back into it?
okay? how about when i blew the motor in my legend, should i have junked it then? or when i blew the motor in my CL, junk that too?
Last edited by Alperovich; 12-07-2008 at 09:19 PM.
12-07-2008 | 09:33 PM
#38
yea, i just don't see it. the logic doesn't make sense.
if i had this done to my car, i'd get another car just like it and rub it in their faces....
following your logic, 4 years ago when i just got my legend and it was totaled by a semi 3 days later i would have given on it right away and never been where i am today, instead i fixed it and engulped myself into the legend community and all, including 6 Legend coupes and 4 Legend sedans.
edit: another example, my legend was broken into and i had alot of my shit stolen, including, 2 amps, headunit, wallet, 2 pairs of oakley's, and other shit, should i have old my Legend? and never gotten back into it?
okay? how about when i blew the motor in my legend, should i have junked it then? or when i blew the motor in my CL, junk that too?
if i had this done to my car, i'd get another car just like it and rub it in their faces....
following your logic, 4 years ago when i just got my legend and it was totaled by a semi 3 days later i would have given on it right away and never been where i am today, instead i fixed it and engulped myself into the legend community and all, including 6 Legend coupes and 4 Legend sedans.
edit: another example, my legend was broken into and i had alot of my shit stolen, including, 2 amps, headunit, wallet, 2 pairs of oakley's, and other shit, should i have old my Legend? and never gotten back into it?
okay? how about when i blew the motor in my legend, should i have junked it then? or when i blew the motor in my CL, junk that too?
I'm with you man. When I had my '97 Integra GS-R sedan it was vanadalized once, had all four rims stolen once, broken into twice (stereo stolen one time, sub/amp and other stuff stolen the other time). That didn't make me like my car anyless and certainly didn't make me not want to have the car any longer. After the car was totalled in a hit and run in '02 I said to myself that I'll own one again someday.
Sure enough, back in January I picked up a '98 GS-R sedan, same interior and exterior color. Since then, i've had numerous issues with it since it was bought used. I've already replaced the clutch/flywheel, radiator, had to buy 4 new wheels and tires, new water pump/timing belt, and had to have the motor rebuilt. All of that bad stuff aside, I still love the car. Just as I still miss my '97 even after all the bad stuff that happened with it.
12-07-2008 | 10:12 PM
#40
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 111
From: NYC
yea, i just don't see it. the logic doesn't make sense.
if i had this done to my car, i'd get another car just like it and rub it in their faces....
following your logic, 4 years ago when i just got my legend and it was totaled by a semi 3 days later i would have given on it right away and never been where i am today, instead i fixed it and engulped myself into the legend community and all, including 6 Legend coupes and 4 Legend sedans.
edit: another example, my legend was broken into and i had alot of my shit stolen, including, 2 amps, headunit, wallet, 2 pairs of oakley's, and other shit, should i have old my Legend? and never gotten back into it?
okay? how about when i blew the motor in my legend, should i have junked it then? or when i blew the motor in my CL, junk that too?
if i had this done to my car, i'd get another car just like it and rub it in their faces....
following your logic, 4 years ago when i just got my legend and it was totaled by a semi 3 days later i would have given on it right away and never been where i am today, instead i fixed it and engulped myself into the legend community and all, including 6 Legend coupes and 4 Legend sedans.
edit: another example, my legend was broken into and i had alot of my shit stolen, including, 2 amps, headunit, wallet, 2 pairs of oakley's, and other shit, should i have old my Legend? and never gotten back into it?
okay? how about when i blew the motor in my legend, should i have junked it then? or when i blew the motor in my CL, junk that too?
if i was dying to get a 60k niche car (S4) and some knucklehead tow truck drivers and police display their true idiocracy to ruin MY luxury vehicle (one which they can never afford) if i continue to drive that car around with a smile on my face, then who's the idiot now? if that logic cant be understood by others on this topic, then i give up...
Last edited by ThermonMermon; 12-07-2008 at 10:17 PM.