From my older sister:
My name is Meda Logan, a teacher visiting family in Medford from out of state. I’m staying with my sister-in-law, who is 73 and I am 67. Coming back from visiting Jacksonville today, we decided to go out to breakfast at the Parkside Café (110 Hawthorne Rd, Medford, OR 97504). I was driving my sister-in-law’s car and parked in a corner parking space of the restaurant’s parking lot and walked across the street to the Farmer’s Market. This was at about 11:30 a.m. We ran into a niece and talked a few minutes. The market didn’t have what we wanted so we crossed back and went into the restaurant. We ate breakfast. I have a receipt and the time we paid was 12:13 p.m. We walked out to the car and it was gone. We thought someone had stolen it. We went back into the restaurant to tell them and the waitresses told us that there is a towing company (Johnson’s Auto Wrecking and Towing, 5485 Table Rock Rd, Central Point, OR 97502) taking advantage of customers who park in the parking lot and cross the street to the Farmer’s Market. The tow truck had been parked in the lot waiting for people to cross the street. As soon as we crossed the street, they pulled out their truck, hooked up our car, and towed it. The waitresses were upset also because the tow truck company just sits there and waits for unsuspecting drivers to leave their car.
I went out to talk to the tow truck driver who had already towed my car and had another car hooked up to take in. He said there were signs saying parking was for customers only. I told him I was a customer and I had no idea why he towed my car. He said “We were sitting right there watching you. We watched you walk in front of our truck and cross the street. As soon as you crossed the street, we towed your car.” I said “If you saw me park there why didn’t’ you tell me to move.” His response was “I’m not paid to do that.” He would not listen and told me it’s the law. Next he said “If I keep talking, the towing price will go up.” He was extremely rude!
My sister-in-law and I went back into the restaurant and a furious waitress went out to complain to him. There was a lot of cussing and the truck driver kept yelling at her, calling her a liar. I called the owner of the Parkside Café. He apologized for it but said there was nothing he could do. I replied “if you are one of the 3 businesses responsible for the tow company to be working there, why can’t you call the towing company and let them know it was a mistake.” The owner replied “Lady, there is nothing I can do, it’s the law.” “ Signs are posted.” I replied, “My sister and I were talking, and we weren’t focused on reading signs attached to buildings.” Then he said, “I will call the towing company and call you back.” When he called me back he said that the towing company told him that signs were posted and they refused to cancel the $250 towing fee.
Next, two waitresses went out to the parking lot to argue with the tow truck driver again. He yelled at them again and they were both extremely upset. This was only the third week the towing company has been there. The waitresses said they’ve complained to the owner because it’s just not fair. I walked over to an adjoining business that is also responsible for the towing company. I said, “ Could you please call the towing company?” He yelled at me, “It’s none of my business, get out of here you c*nt!” This came from the owner of Mr.D’s Insurance (150 Hawthorne Ste. B, Medford, Or 97504)
I returned to Parkside Café and a waitress was calling the owner of the restaurant back again. He told her there was nothing he could do. My sister-in-law and I had to walk back to her home in 105 degree weather.
An hour later, I