Police statistics are sunny for MB. That is, if you consider robberies, murders and things of the sort.
The danger lies in something we, residents, are very much aware of.
If you come to MB and rent a car, you might be prone to a very bad experience. No, it is not car theft. It is theft of a different kind.
There are good many merchants that have parking lots in Miami Beach. These are mostly ungated, free access parking lots. Beware of them.
You will notice there are signs in all of these parking lots, warnings with the name of one or another towing company. These operators are supposed to protect the private property from non client abuse, in other words, people park in company "x"'s free parking lot, and go to company "y" to do business. You would think that if you go to do business in the company that owns the parking lot, nothing will happen to you. Think again, fast!
I just had a very bad experience with a towing company, and found out, from reading on the Internet and speaking to friends, that I am not alone. In fact, almost every local resident has a horror story involving these two companies. The two "accredited" towing truck operators apparently tow away many cars that are not violating any parking privileges every day.
I did not know this was a problem until it hit, me, and apparently, many others. For some reading on the matter seehttp://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2007/05/surprise_youve_been_towed.php http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/04/oh_the_endless_joys_of_being_t.phphttp://www.miaminewtimes.com/1998-09-03/news/parking-and-politics/7 http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2007/04/beach_towing_strikes_again.php
In other words, you are really playing games when you go to a CVS or Chase parking lot in Miami Beach, because a ruthless Towing operator might be looming around the corner, just expecting another sucker dish out as much as $225 for retrieving his car. And this can happen any time of the day or night, mind you, in South Beach, North Beach, anywhere within MB. Beware because another car, parked with a "permit" might be there as a bait.
The horror stories are so many on the Internet, that you would think, how come nothing gets done about it? Well, it seems that the City of MB makes $25 for every tow, which adds up to more than $300,000 a year from both operators, quite a nice piece of change. So what if a few thousand tourists and quite a few residents get taken, year in and out? The majority doesn't, so the party goes on, while these two towing company operators continue to get rich.
By the way, there is a towing bill of rights that requires two operators to accept two forms of payment. You probably guessed it - at least Beach only takes cash.
My advice to you - if you dream of coming to MB for vacation, do not rent a car. Sorry, Hertz, Budget and all car rental companies. If you must drive, go somewhere else, there are many other beach towns in Florida. If you do drive, there is a big chance these two towing companies will spoil your party.
Don't say nobody warned you.
Therein lies the institutionalized danger of Miami Beach.
The danger lies in something we, residents, are very much aware of.
If you come to MB and rent a car, you might be prone to a very bad experience. No, it is not car theft. It is theft of a different kind.
There are good many merchants that have parking lots in Miami Beach. These are mostly ungated, free access parking lots. Beware of them.
You will notice there are signs in all of these parking lots, warnings with the name of one or another towing company. These operators are supposed to protect the private property from non client abuse, in other words, people park in company "x"'s free parking lot, and go to company "y" to do business. You would think that if you go to do business in the company that owns the parking lot, nothing will happen to you. Think again, fast!
I just had a very bad experience with a towing company, and found out, from reading on the Internet and speaking to friends, that I am not alone. In fact, almost every local resident has a horror story involving these two companies. The two "accredited" towing truck operators apparently tow away many cars that are not violating any parking privileges every day.
I did not know this was a problem until it hit, me, and apparently, many others. For some reading on the matter seehttp://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2007/05/surprise_youve_been_towed.php http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/04/oh_the_endless_joys_of_being_t.phphttp://www.miaminewtimes.com/1998-09-03/news/parking-and-politics/7 http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2007/04/beach_towing_strikes_again.php
In other words, you are really playing games when you go to a CVS or Chase parking lot in Miami Beach, because a ruthless Towing operator might be looming around the corner, just expecting another sucker dish out as much as $225 for retrieving his car. And this can happen any time of the day or night, mind you, in South Beach, North Beach, anywhere within MB. Beware because another car, parked with a "permit" might be there as a bait.
The horror stories are so many on the Internet, that you would think, how come nothing gets done about it? Well, it seems that the City of MB makes $25 for every tow, which adds up to more than $300,000 a year from both operators, quite a nice piece of change. So what if a few thousand tourists and quite a few residents get taken, year in and out? The majority doesn't, so the party goes on, while these two towing company operators continue to get rich.
By the way, there is a towing bill of rights that requires two operators to accept two forms of payment. You probably guessed it - at least Beach only takes cash.
My advice to you - if you dream of coming to MB for vacation, do not rent a car. Sorry, Hertz, Budget and all car rental companies. If you must drive, go somewhere else, there are many other beach towns in Florida. If you do drive, there is a big chance these two towing companies will spoil your party.
Don't say nobody warned you.
Therein lies the institutionalized danger of Miami Beach.
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