Hundreds of students' cars towed at UMass

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Unexpected and unwelcome developments on Move-in Day for Hundreds of UMass students' this Labor Day. They woke up to find their cars had been towed, even though they'd been told they could park in the lot.

There are a lot of fees associated with getting situated at college-- and for UMass students who'd like to keep their cars on campus, one of those fees is a 300 dollar parking permit.

Almost 200 students who paid that parking permit fee parked right here in lot 44 Sunday night. But when they came back Monday morning their cars weren't where they left them.

The cars had been towed to Ernie's Towing in Amherst. Students had to find a way to get there, and then wait in line for hours before coughing up more than a hundred bucks in cash. Transfer student Ben Sherman told 22News this wasn't exactly the warm welcome he'd hoped for at his new school.

“The volunteers that were there they were telling everyone you can park here. I paid almost 300 dollars for a parking pass and now I've got to pay a hundred dollars for the tow,” Sherman said.

Word of the mass-tow spread around some of the dorms, and other students couldn't believe just how many cars got taken away.

“I would just be furious. Considering parking services isn't even open yet. It's not going to be open until tomorrow. I can't believe they would actually tow any cars before giving people a chance to get a parking pass. It's just too early. It seems ridiculous,” said sophomore Brian Partridge.

This will turn out to be an inconvenience, but not an expensive one. UMass spokesman Ed Blaguszewski said there was a misunderstanding, and the students would be reimbursed for the towing fee, and the parking violation will be waived.