Two shore-based towing firms are among six in New Jersey paying just over $55,000 in penalties and reimbursements to settle allegations of violating the state's predatory towing law.

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J&R Sunoco of Belford agreed to pay $15,000, and SRS Towing of Neptune will bay $4,000, according to information from the office of acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman.

"Imagine returning to a parking lot and finding your car gone, and being left stranded. Even worse, imagine if warning signs were either not posted or inadequate, in violation of our Predatory Towing Prevention Act," Hoffman said in prepared statements. "These actions are part of a larger initiative to make sure that predatory towing does not occur in our state."

The six-year-old law regulates moving of cars from private grounds and police-ordered tows without owner or operator consent. Companies are prohibited from charging excessive fees, failing to release vehicles not yet moved from private property at the owner's request, unauthorized scavenging for prospective jobs, and charging for towing or storage beyond services maintained by the state Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA).

Vehicles cannot be taken from private lots unless signs at entrances explain hours of operation, unauthorized parking prohibitions, identify the assigned towing company, and display charges and retrieval times.

The remaining companies are in Newark, Irvington, and West Orange.

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