TOWING FIRM GETS THE BOOT IN CRACKDOWN.

Byline: DANA BARTHOLOMEW Staff Writer

Louise Simpson had backed her car out of a McDonald's on Wilshire Boulevard when she was suddenly rear-ended by a mysterious tow truck -- four or five times.

``Are you having a good evening?'' a Non Stop Towing truck driver asked before allegedly demanding $180 for hitting his truck. Every hour she waited, he added as three more trucks arrived to block her exit, would cost from $30 to $50 more.

That account was among allegations against Non Stop Towing Inc., and its owners, who were named Thursday in a 72-count criminal complaint accusing them of illegally hauling cars from private lots. The move is part of a campaign by city and state officials who want to put a stop to the growing number of illegal tows and extortion attempts by ``bandit'' towing companies.

In addition, the city has sponsored a state bill to crack down on predatory tow-truck operators throughout California. The bill, AB 2210, sailed through the Assembly last week and faces a pending vote in the Senate.

``We live in a city that is dependent on its cars, parking spaces are hard to find,'' City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said at a Hollywood news conference with Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, author of the bill.

``These predatory tow companies know that ... and then hold you hostage. It's not right.''

Non Stop Towing of Los Angeles faces 10 counts each of auto tampering and attempted extortion.

Husband-and-wife owners William Sean and Ronit Rene Woodard, both 39, of Stevenson Ranch and West Hollywood, were each charged with 36 counts of auto tampering and 36 counts of attempted extortion.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and fines of $5,000 to $10,000.

Prosecutors said Ronit Woodard also goes by the alias ``Ronit Goldfinger.''

Non Stop Towing officials declined to comment on the charges.

By law, tow-truck operators must operate with a permit, wait at least an hour to tow a car, obtain written permission from property owners and accept credit cards.

An investigation by the City Attorney's Corruption, Fraud and Enforcement Unit found that Non Stop Towing violated the law over a two- year period.

Among the charges:

A Non Stop driver hooked up an unmarked police vehicle 15 minutes after it was parked on a private lot. When confronted by an undercover officer, the driver allegedly refused to release the car without a $180 payment, or a $278 fee at the tow company lot.

A motorist ducked into a florist and returned to find that a Non Stop driver had allegedly blocked her car. Despite showing a receipt, the driver refused to allow her to leave without a $200 payment.

A woman returned to her car and found her window broken, allegedly by a Non Stop tow truck driver attempting to move her vehicle. He later told police he was ``attempting to move it to a safer location.''

Amber Reddin, granddaughter of former LAPD Chief Tom Reddin, stopped in a parking lot for 20 minutes while she dropped off some keys before flying overseas and returned to find her Jeep had been towed by Non Stop.

``I expected to pay $120, but when I got charged $400, I knew something was wrong,'' said Reddin, 36, of Hollywood, ``especially when they didn't allow me to use a credit card.''

City attorneys began prosecuting rogue operators last summer in the San Fernando Valley. Six companies -- including 5A Roadside Assistance of Van Nuys, Safety Towing Inc. and its successor, Global Towing -- have been indicted.

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

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