Imagine popping into a McDonald's for a quick treat, only to return to find your car missing. That's exactly what happened to one unsuspecting customer, who discovered the hidden costs of a simple ice cream cone when her vehicle was towed from the restaurant's parking lot.

The frustrating part? She believed she was following the rules. The posted signs outlined a time limit for parking, but made no mention of any restrictions on leaving the immediate premises.

Arlene Murray, the customer in question, faced an unexpected hurdle and had to fight to get her money back after the incident. It highlights the importance of clear signage and consistent enforcement of parking regulations.

The core issue revolves around the interpretation of the parking rules. The signs explicitly mentioned the customer requirement and the associated time limit, but omitted crucial details about other potential reasons for towing.

To swiftly address any parking violations, a local towing company is contracted to be on standby. They stand ready to remove vehicles deemed to be in violation of the parking regulations set by the property owner.

The McDonald's franchise in question is located in an area surrounded by various shops and restaurants. This creates a higher demand for parking and potentially stricter enforcement of parking rules to ensure space for customers of the businesses in the immediate vicinity.

Resident Arlene Murray faced an unexpected financial burden when she had to pay $200 to retrieve her car after it was towed from the McDonald's parking lot. She believed she was wrongfully penalized, as she was within the stipulated time limit.

The signs clearly stated that the parking lot was reserved for McDonald's customers only, with a 30-minute time limit for each spot. This seemed straightforward enough, providing a clear guideline for parking duration.

The signs also explicitly warned that vehicles exceeding the 30-minute limit would be towed. However, they failed to mention any other circumstances that might lead to a vehicle being towed, creating ambiguity and potential for misinterpretation.

Murray discovered that leaving the parking lot, even briefly, to visit a nearby pharmacy across the street could result in her car being towed. This came as a shock, as she believed she was still considered a customer while running a quick errand.

"I was in Walgreens for maybe five minutes. I went straight to the lotions, grabbed some lotion, picked up Icy-Hot, and checked out. There was no line," she explained to a local ABC affiliate. This detailed account highlights the brevity and purpose of her trip.

Murray was purchasing lotion for her teenage son, Gavin, who was recovering in the hospital from a serious car accident in July. Her quick trip to Walgreens was motivated by a need to care for her son during a difficult time.

Her McDonald's receipt, dated August, showed a purchase time of 5:05 pm, marking the beginning of her 30-minute parking allowance. This provides a crucial timestamp for verifying her compliance with the parking rules.

According to Anytime Towing's records, Murray's car was towed at 5:24 pm, as confirmed by owner Andy Parker. This timeline is crucial for understanding the sequence of events and determining whether Murray exceeded the allowed parking time.

The towing company has an agreement with the McDonald's franchise and other local businesses to provide towing services. This contractual agreement ensures that parking violations are addressed promptly and efficiently.

Parker clarified that his drivers do not independently decide which vehicles to tow. Instead, they rely on instructions from the McDonald's management to identify and remove vehicles in violation of the parking rules.

"Usually, the manager lets us know what we need to tow. If someone saw her walking across the street, that's probably why they towed the vehicle," Parker explained. This statement highlights the manager's role in initiating the towing process.

Parker agreed with WATE's Don Dare that Murray had not exceeded the 30-minute time limit based on the times on her receipt and the company's internal records. This acknowledgment further supports Murray's claim of wrongful towing.

Murray's daughter, Veronica Ray, intervened and recorded a conversation with the McDonald's manager, questioning the reason for her mother's car being towed. This recording became valuable evidence in challenging the towing decision.

"It is our rule, I guess," the manager stated, explaining that Murray's car was towed because she left the property. This ambiguous statement suggests that the rule was not clearly communicated to customers and may not have been explicitly stated on the posted signs.

To avoid parking citations, it's crucial to adhere to all posted laws and ordinances. However, even with the best intentions, mistakes can happen, leading to unexpected parking tickets. It's a situation many drivers have faced at some point.

Like any form of citation, parking tickets can often be avoided by carefully reading and following posted signage. However, when visiting an unfamiliar city, state, or when in a rush, important details can be easily overlooked, resulting in unintended violations.

Suddenly, you're faced with a parking ticket you weren't prepared for. If the ticket comes as a surprise, there are several steps you can take to strengthen your case when appealing the citation.

Begin by thoroughly examining the ticket. Look for any discrepancies, such as incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Any inaccuracies can render the ticket invalid.

Gather photographic evidence. Take photos of your vehicle in the parking space, any lack of signage, or other vehicles that were not cited for similar parking behavior. If the ticket involves parking too close to a fire hydrant, a photo demonstrating a reasonable distance can be helpful. Ensure that the metadata (time and date) is accessible on the photos. Also, photograph signs obstructed by trees, on bent posts, or that are not easily visible.

Verify that the statute allegedly violated is listed on the ticket. If this information is missing, the ticket may be invalid.

Promptly follow the appeal instructions provided on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will include instructions for filing an appeal. Delaying the appeal process can weaken your argument and result in late fees.

During a court appearance, avoid certain phrases that can undermine your credibility and weaken your argument. These include: "I didn't know the law," "I was just about to move my car," "I can't afford this ticket," "I've been parking here for years," or "I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK."

If you encounter obstacles and feel stuck in the appeals process, consider consulting with a traffic lawyer in your area. Many attorneys offer free initial consultations to assess your case.

While Murray initially paid a $200 fee to release her vehicle, she confirmed that the money was eventually returned to her after the circumstances were fully understood. This highlights the importance of advocating for your rights when you believe you've been wrongly penalized.

Without her McDonald's receipt, Murray would have had limited recourse to reclaim her money due to the lack of an official record of her parking duration. This underscores the significance of keeping receipts and documenting important details in such situations.

Tennessee state law grants property owners the authority to tow vehicles parked illegally or beyond a specified time limit at their discretion. Meanwhile, the City of Knoxville's regulations govern the fees that towing companies are permitted to charge. This combination of state and local laws shapes the landscape of parking enforcement and towing regulations.

Murray's experience mirrors similar incidents nationwide. For instance, a group of motorists in May had to fight to get their cars back after being towed from a defunct business' parking lot. Read their story here.

Similarly, one woman had her car towed despite following the parking lot's instructions, only to discover it was because of a poorly communicated policy. Learn more about this case.

Even parking safely in front of your own home isn't a guarantee, as one driver discovered after returning to find his car towed and sold at auction. Find out what happened.