At least 50 cars were towed, the majority belonging to students here, by local towing company A-AArlington Abandoned Vehicle for parking on private property. Students had to pay $111 to recover their vehicles.

Tammy Killough, an office manager, said her company posted signs about two weeks ago warning that unauthorized vehicles would be towed. She added that the parking spots are meant only for Ballet Arlington customers.

“They should’ve realized that this is private property,” she said. “We’re just doing our job.” 
Killough wouldn’t disclose exactly how many vehicles were towed.

Many students said they were disappointed that no prior warning was given by the university or the property owners.

Civil engineering senior Rian Maguire said he learned about the towing during his 11 a.m. class and rushed out to find his car gone.

“My friend’s girlfriend came to our class and told him that his car was being towed,” he said. “I parked in the same lot, so I figured I was being towed, too.”

Maguire added that the signs posted at the lot were not visible and that the property owners had never complained in the past.

“I just wish they warned us,” he said. “There’s no way of spotting those signs when you’re driving.” 
Six “No Parking” signs and 11 other warning signs are posted at all the corners of the lot.

Dolores Berkovsky, property owner and manager, said she called the towing company because business with Ballet Arlington was in jeopardy.

“I got a call saying they were not going to lease out the establishment unless we had taken care of this parking problem,” she said. “They have children come in and safety is an issue because of all these cars here. Plus, the customers have the right to park, don’t they?”

Biology sophomore Tamara Branson said she had been parking in the lot since last year and she feels the property owner should pay to get her car back from the towing company.

“You sure as hell can’t see those signs,” she said. “The owner needs to pay to get my car out because those signs weren’t visible.”

Most students said they continued to park in the lot because it was the only available spot close to engineering buildings, such as Nedderman Hall.

Jason Vazquez, Nirupa Senthurchelvan and Jason Pisani, all engineering majors, said they have had too few options when parking on campus.

Vazquez said all the other parking lots, except for the South 40 parking lot, were always full, and the textbook outlet was the most convenient place near campus.

“There are always several cars in this lot, so I said ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans,’ ” he said. 

“This is the fastest way to get to class in Nedderman — I mean there’s no way in hell I’m parking all across campus and walking.”

Killough said her company will continue to tow as long as students park on the property.

“They should realize these spots are not for them,” she said. “It’s only hurting them in the end.”

Maguire said he feels no sympathy for the towing company.

“They’re cleaning us out man,” he said. “And really, it’s not our fault. We should’ve been warned or they should have better signs posted.” 

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