'What extortion looks like': Owner-operator Glenn Keller v. Parking Pirates, round 2

Overdrive Radio

In late 2019 going into 2020 the state of Colorado became what's believed to be the first to ban statewide the practice of booting an occupied vehicle, just what you’re about to hear in this edition of the Overdrive Radio podcast, with audio courtesy of the 911 call April 21 from Louisiana-based owner-operator Glenn Keller to dispatch in Gaston County, North Carolina, due west of Charlotte. Regular Overdrive readers may well be familiar with Keller from past coverage of his leased operation, some of it towing- and Gastonia-related, interestingly enough. That's where Keller was when this happened, idling while sitting in the driver's seat in a place where there is no express prohibition on the onerous occupied-vehicle-booting practice. Keller was surrounded by three tow trucks, whose operators who demanded money, and Keller promptly involved the police when he realized there was no escape. In this edition of Overdrive Radio, we talk further with Keller about just what happened here, as it’s yet another example of tow and boot operators in some locales all around the country whose plenty aggressive tactics are inspiring angst among folks like him -- and not just angst, not just anger –- nay, rage might be a better word there. And there’s fear, for sure. Were it not for the police showing up when they did, well, things could have gone all sorts of sideways. Keller remains hopeful his post-incident efforts might have a lasting effect where this incident occurred –- in Gastonia, North Carolina. See the following Charlotte Fox affiliate news report on the location where Keller was booted via: http://overdriveonline.com/15065549 Read more about the issue nationwide: https://www.overdriveonline.com/channel-19/article/14894396/truck-booting-and-towing-traps-in-light-of-eld-mandate Could Colorado's ban on booting occupied vehicles be a model for the nation?: https://www.overdriveonline.com/business/article/14897201/could-colorados-pending-vehicle-booting-regulation-be-a-model-for-the-nation