Follow-up on Gold’s Gym towing issues

Last week we told you about cars getting towed from outside a Wilmington gym because members could not park in their usual lot due to construction.

Gold’s Gym members said Earl’s Towing Company told them they could only pay cash after hours. WWAY’s Meghan Packer spoke with the Wilmington City Attorney about the city’s towing ordinance and Gold’s Gym managers, about their plans for the future.

Construction in the Long Leaf Shopping Center has been a bigger headache for Gold’s Gym management and members than originally expected. Since parking spots were eliminated, gym members were parking in, and getting towed from, a No Parking zone. New signs have recently been posted, but still not clear enough for some.

“I was almost about to miss my class so I was in a rush to get in to set up my equipment,” said Laurie Bianco, who parked in the No Parking zone.

Skip Lennon, Gold’s Gym Operations Manager said, “As you can kind of see around, cars are parked and there’s not designated spaces totally where to park, but there are definitely spaces where not to park.”

Lennon said they have no plans of moving, despite their less than desirable spot in the center. After the towing confusion that has made for some angry members. “We’ve talked about moving the gym up front or staying back in the back,” he said. ”What the landlord’s going to do and us being a destination type business, we’re going to stay back here in the back.”

Many people who got towed said they were upset about being told by Earl’s Towing that they could only pay cash. Wilmington City Attorney, Tom Pollard said the city’s towing ordinance does not give the city a say in regulating towing company’s payment methods, although, he has heard of other cities requiring towing companies to offer multiple payment options.

“I am not sure I have seen one like that in North Carolina and that is something, I guess at some point in time we looked at that issue but we have not included that in the ordinance,” Pollard said.

Pollard added that he and his staff would have to do some research to find out if the city would even have the authority to regulate company’s payment options. If they don’t, he said they may be able to get authority through the general assembly.