(no subject)

[zana16]

Close call there:

I realized at 11 am Thursday that I'd forgotten to move my car from East Capitol St for street cleaning. This was the second time, so I figured I'd suck up the thirty dollar ticket and go on with my life. Until this morning I tried to rush to the grocery store--and my car was not there.

I lost my car. The hell?

I figure it must have been towed. Pain in the ass, yes, but a lesson I'll remember, and I didn't have time to get upset. Getting upset is something someone else always does; I've been the person who tries to stop them losing their temper. How nice to be able blame everything on one's family, ne? Anyhow, I called the number that the "If towed" sign said. Busy.

12:10 I tried again. Busy.

12:30 Busy.

12:45 Busy.

1:30 Busy.

1:50 Busy.

2:30 Busy.

2:35 Busy.

2:45 Guess what? Busy.

Ad nauseum.

At three I have explored the DMV website. The ticket has shown up on the site, but it tells me my car has not been towed. Well, maybe that information hasn't made it online yet. I call again. All together now: Busy.

I discover HOW to get my car from the impound lot: I must present them with a receipt of payment for the towing. I can't get a receipt of payment for the towing until the website admits my car's been towed. Grr. I try calling again. Three guesses, and the first two don't count. Furthermore, there is no Metro stop anywhere near the impound lot. Shite shite shite shite shite.

I call city central and ask if there's another line I can call. There is! A very nice young woman tells me that they have no record of towing my car, and tells me very seriously that I must report it stolen at once.

I try not to panic. My car? My car, the first big thing I could really call my own, my car I'm still paying my dad back for? No. Nononononononononono.

So I report my car stolen. A very nice man tells me that no, it's not stolen, it's just been moved.

Moved?

You mean towed? I ask.

No, moved. Three blocks down, so they could clean the street. No charge beyond the ticket, have a nice day. Patient pause as I sob out my relief and thanks.

Moral of the story: Never park on East Capitol St.

That is all.

Comments

[violachic.livejournal.com]

They do that in Chicago sometimes for street cleanings and maintenence. Freaked my sister out the first time they did it, too.

[lycaste.livejournal.com]

How surreal! At least you don't have to deal with the impound lot, though.