Concertgoers say a towing outfit whisked cars away, then charged $562 cash to get them back—and one driver says his car came back too damaged to drive.
Story Highlights
- Drivers reported a repeat pattern: cars vanished, a sign listed a number, and recovery cost $562.
- One driver said his car returned badly damaged; his insurer treated it as a theft claim.
- A police report was filed, and questions surfaced about the towing company’s licenses.
- Aftershock says it does not manage nearby lots and that parking is at your own risk.
What Drivers Reported During Aftershock Weekend
Drivers who parked near the Aftershock festival in Sacramento said their cars disappeared during the event. They described a similar routine. A temporary sign showed a phone number. A caller was told to go to a Del Paso Boulevard address and pay $562 to get the car back. Multiple drivers described the same flat fee. One driver, Ryan Capagli, said his car was returned with heavy damage and could not be driven afterward.
Capagli also said the paperwork did not list key details. He pointed to missing items like the vehicle identification number and the tow and release times. He also questioned an affidavit of towing authorization that he believed was forged. His insurer handled the case as a stolen-vehicle claim. A report was filed with the Sacramento Police Department, giving police a place to start their review of what happened that weekend.
Licensing Questions and the Company’s Response
The towing operator named in reports, J&B Towing, presented a mixed trail across records. Reporters found an active entry in the United States Department of Transportation database. They did not find the same name in certain other searches described as required for towing in California. The owner told reporters the company was legitimate but did not give a license number and declined an interview or paperwork to prove it.
Private-property towing in California must follow strict rules on who can request a tow and how much can be charged. State law says private-property tow and storage rates cannot be higher than approved rates set by local law enforcement or the California Highway Patrol rate for that company. State law also limits certain extra fees and requires specific notice steps in some cases. Those rules exist because towing abuses do happen and can leave drivers with large surprise bills.
Who Authorized These Tows—and What the Festival Says
The open question is who authorized the removals. The available reporting does not show that the event organizer, the lot owner, or a parking vendor directed the tows. Aftershock’s official guidance separates the festival from nearby paid lots, tells attendees that parking is at their own risk, and says overnight parking is banned and can lead to towing. That stance distances the festival from what happened in surrounding areas near the venue.
City parking pages describe event parking options but do not settle who green-lit any private-property removals tied to these reports. That gap matters. California law centers on the property owner or an authorized agent to order a tow from private property. Without clear, documented authorization, a tow can run afoul of state rules. Confirming that link—lot, agent, and tow ticket—is often the key to resolving cases like this.
Why This Hits a Nerve Across the Political Spectrum
This story blends two common fears: losing your car without warning and paying hundreds in cash to a private business with little transparency. Many readers, left and right, see it as part of a larger pattern. People feel systems favor insiders while regular families face rising costs and shrinking recourse. When paperwork is thin, fees look flat and high, and answers are vague, trust erodes fast—especially when a big public event draws crowds and confusion.
Consumer complaint data show that towing and storage issues lead to many grievances in California each year. Recent state enforcement reports list dozens of towing-related complaints per quarter, reflecting how often these conflicts surface. The volume does not prove wrongdoing in this case. It does show that drivers often feel trapped when a private party holds their car and demands payment before release, which is exactly what these Aftershock attendees described.
What To Watch Next: Records, Rates, and Damage
Key documents can clarify what happened. Tow authorization forms, time-stamped photos, itemized invoices, and storage calculations would show if the $562 charge matched approved rates and whether the removals were lawful. Police records, including the filed report, could confirm any criminal concerns. Independent inspections and insurance files could establish when and how Capagli’s car was damaged and whether that damage ties to the tow or occurred later.
Practical Steps for Drivers at Big Events
Drivers can lower risk by snapping pictures of posted rules, posted rates, and the car’s location. They should save call logs and ask for itemized invoices that list the vehicle identification number, tow time, release time, and the authorizing party. State law caps rates and limits add-on fees, so compare any invoice to the local law enforcement rate sheet. If something seems off, file a police report and a consumer complaint. Paper trails help resolve disputes.
Sources:
nypost.com, cityofsacramento.gov, cbsnews.com, sacbee.com, law.lis.virginia.gov
