Hello! On July 2, at 12:30am, I was pulled over for expired out of state plates. The officer stated that she was initially pulling me over because of a dent in my vehicle and that it was cause to cite for vehicular negligence, but she noticed the plates once she'd caught up to me. Within moments of having pulled me over, four additional police SUVs showed up, followed by an undercover SUV a moment later, all surrounding me, headlights aimed into my vehicle. I was asked about my plates, my license, frisked, and then made to wait in my car for 82 minutes wondering if I was going to be ticketed, arrested, or worse. They decided to not cite me at all, but to have my vehicle towed and impounded. To add further insult, she offered to give me a courtesy ride home. While I sat in the back of her police car, I watched her and one of the numerous officers that had shown up search my vehicle, including the male office pulling my personal items out to show the tow truck driver, and laughing at them before putting them back. She gave me the company's info to call them and said she'd contact me in the coming days about what to do. It's July 6th and I haven't heard from anyone.

I did contact the tow company and it's $250 for the impound fee, followed by $50/day for daily storage. After 21 days, they consider the vehicle abandoned and then take possession to "get rid of it", as they told me. I can't allow this to happen. It's my sole means of transportation, getting a new or even used vehicle is out of the question. Since my car has been impounded, I've not been able to get to work, so that also hurts financially. A week prior, on the 24th, I'd spent almost my entire pay to get my car fixed, which was already going to make me a week late on rent (whereas I would've been a week early, as is my usual). Since the car seizure, I've been stuck home not working, with a fresh cost to worry about, and not enough money to cover the late rent I would've had money for had I not gotten pulled over.

So I am asking for donations to help get my car back to me so that I can get back to work. The longer it's there, the more it'll cost to retrieve. And the longer I'm home from work, the further back in rent I become, the closer to not having shelter my dog and I are at risk of.

If you can help, even if it's to pass this along to someone else, I'd appreciate it. Thank you!!