Towing the line at The Fort

So there I was enjoying a nice Sunday family lunch in the Fort when the waitress comes up and informs me that my car is being towed. I’m out of my chair like a Chinese New Year Dragon dance that someone had thrown firecrackers under and manage to make it out just as they had attached the chains to my chassis but before they had actually hooked me up to their truck. 

There must have been ten to fifteen other diners scurrying out of the nearby establishments, jumping into their cars and all peeling off in different directions in a scene that was just a shaved head and super-hot chick away from a Fast & Furious scene when the cops show up to one of their illegal races. 

Just then, a BGC enforcer approaches me explaining that I am in a tow-away zone. Instinctively, I look around for a sign and could not find one anywhere on either side of the street. The sidewalks were also not painted yellow or red, or any color for that matter, indicating that it was neither a loading nor unloading area nor a restricted zone. She was extremely professional, courteous and very well spoken, but was very firm about letting me know that the entire Bonifacio Global City is a tow-away zone, although in the end was reasonable enough to let me off with a stern warning. 

Now, as polite as she was and as grateful as I am for the second chance, it does raise a few questions. On the street just across, (4th Ave., where the Ferrari dealership is) there are very clear no-parking signs as well signs indicating that it is a tow-away zone. On 31st street, which is a small side street outside the restaurant where I was parked, there are no signs whatsoever. Perhaps BGC may want to consider making that clearer.

Also, considering that the staff of these restaurants can clearly see their customers parking outside their establishments yet offer no warning about towing on Sundays, you begin to see why it is not exactly unreasonable for people to assume that it is allowed. They may argue that your parking may not be their responsibility, which is absolutely true, but nothing promotes indigestion quite as fast as chasing your car down the street, and that tends to be something people remember when choosing a restaurant in the future. 

I’m not bringing this up to justify my parking—after all, the enforcer did have a valid point saying that the absence of a no-parking sign should not automatically be interpreted as permission to park, and instead, motorists need to look for painted bays with proper signage indicating that street parking is allowed. Besides, as I mentioned, I was let off with a warning, so I really have no reason to moan. I’m writing this more as a warning to unsuspecting motorists and as a plea for more consistency in apprehension. 

Case in point: while two wrongs don’t make a right, it does seem strange that 4th Avenue, which was in full view of the tow truck was not targeted despite having both ‘No Parking’ signs and ‘Tow Away Zone’ signs clearly placed along the entire stretch. Perhaps it had something to with the fact that there were some flashy SUVs with single-digit plates, complete with their token backup vehicles; but then again, if you’re looking to make an example...

Basically, I think that as undisciplined as some people can be, I believe that you will find that most people are happy to follow the rules so long as they’re clearly written, not selectively enforced, or just happen to discriminate against them. If you’re not sure what the means, you just have to take a nice Sunday stroll around Burgos Circle to see that sports cars are not held to the same parking laws as common vehicles, and are even allowed to park around the rotunda itself as one owner of an Expedition found out when he tried to park there as well. “Sir, only sports cars are allowed to park here on Sundays,” was the only explanation given by the enforcer.

I also know this because I have joined one or two of these runs and, when my metal was precious enough, was given the same courtesy.  

One member of a sports car club group tells me that exotic car clubs are granted special permission by BGC to park around Burgos Circle after their fun runs because it enhances the image of the place, but I’m sure you can probably see how Juan de la Montero could give three flying shifts about that when he is getting towed simply for being too ordinary for such a progressive global city. 

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