Resurfacing Request: To tow or not to tow

Editor's note: As part of the Berkeley County Resurfacing Project, on May 11, the Banks Construction Company issued a release through the Daniel Island Property Owners' Association requesting residents to refrain from on-street parking on River Landing Drive from Seven Farms Drive to the Daniel Island Waterfront, from May 12 to May 15 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., noting that "Any vehicles parked on the street will be towed." 

To the editor, 

During the second week of May, many Daniel Island residents returned from dinner, Concert in the Park, or simple evenings with family only to discover their cars had vanished. Families feared their vehicles had been stolen. Mothers in heels chased tow trucks down the street. There were no obvious signs near available parking, no guidance, no phone numbers, and often no one nearby to help bewildered residents understand what had happened. 

Instead, law-abiding citizens suddenly found themselves scrambling for rides to North Charleston, paying $225 to recover their vehicles, producing paperwork to prove ownership, and rearranging their lives late into the night. Babysitters had to stay longer. Parents scrambled to find someone to pick up children from soccer practice. Teachers, nurses, and doctors lost valuable time and peace of mind over what appeared to be an overly aggressive towing operation tied to repaving work. 

Charleston is supposed to be a community that values hospitality, communication, and common sense. Repaving roads is necessary, but treating residents like offenders for unclear parking violations is not. 

I respectfully ask the City of Charleston and parking enforcement leadership to investigate these towing practices on Daniel Island and ensure future operations prioritize clear communication, visible signage, and compassion for the people who call this community home. 

Sincerely, 

Geoff Weber 

Daniel Island resident