<p>Connecticut towers insist they’re selling junk cars. It’s impossible to know the conditions of every vehicle. </p><p>But an analysis by The Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica shows that in nearly half the cases, the asking price was 50% or less of the book value.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-law-data-dmv?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-law-data-dmv?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-towing-law-data-dmv?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/data/" rel="tag">#Data</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a></p>
cars
<p>Connecticut Towing Companies Use Belongings Left in Cars as Leverage to Collect Fees, Drivers Say<br>—</p><p>The Connecticut DMV allows owners to get back into towed cars to retrieve items that are essential to their health and welfare. But people have lost work equipment, car seats, important documents and priceless mementos.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-dmv-lost-belongings?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-dmv-lost-belongings?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-towing-dmv-lost-belongings?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a></p>
<p>This old-fashioned garage seems to have been frozen in time. This place appears to have been suddenly abandoned sometime around 1995. Both the shop and the attached servicing garage are filled with vintage treasures to peruse. The shop lies forgotten by the roadside, somewhere in France. </p><p><a href="/tags/vintage/" rel="tag">#Vintage</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/shop/" rel="tag">#Shop</a> <a href="/tags/garage/" rel="tag">#Garage</a> <a href="/tags/france/" rel="tag">#France</a> <a href="/tags/abandoned/" rel="tag">#Abandoned</a> <a href="/tags/signs/" rel="tag">#Signs</a></p>
<p>ProPublica has identified dozens of instances in which the Trump administration’s DOT has moved to cut, weaken or delay safety regulations for cars, trucks, planes, trains and even oil pipelines.</p><p>Experts say the changes will cost lives.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-dot-regulation-safety-rollback-sean-duffy?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/trump-dot-regulation-safety-rollback-sean-duffy?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tru</span><span class="invisible">mp-dot-regulation-safety-rollback-sean-duffy?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/safety/" rel="tag">#Safety</a> <a href="/tags/transportation/" rel="tag">#Transportation</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/aviation/" rel="tag">#Aviation</a> <a href="/tags/trains/" rel="tag">#Trains</a> <a href="/tags/transit/" rel="tag">#Transit</a> <a href="/tags/oil/" rel="tag">#Oil</a> <a href="/tags/trump/" rel="tag">#Trump</a></p>
<p>Exeter, one of the largest auto lenders in the U.S. and a CarMax partner, specializes in high-interest subprime loans.</p><p>“We’re here to help,” reads its website. In reality, Exeter’s practices often do the opposite.</p><p>(Published Sept. 2024)<br><a href="https://propub.li/4h0hZBd" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>propub.li/4h0hZBd</a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/loan/" rel="tag">#Loan</a> <a href="/tags/finance/" rel="tag">#Finance</a> <a href="/tags/business/" rel="tag">#Business</a></p>
<p>Connecticut allows towing companies to sell some people’s cars after just 15 days — one of the shortest windows in the country.</p><p>The sales have particularly affected low-income people, who have lost jobs after they were unable to get their cars back.</p><p><a href="https://propub.li/3DGYCPs" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>propub.li/3DGYCPs</a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/poverty/" rel="tag">#Poverty</a> <a href="/tags/business/" rel="tag">#Business</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a></p>
<p>IMPACT: Reporting by the Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica found that a Connecticut law allows towed cars to be sold in 15 days, one of the shortest windows in the nation.</p><p>Now the Connecticut Senate has passed a bill that will make it easier for drivers to reclaim their vehicles.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-passes-towing-law-reform?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-passes-towing-law-reform?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-passes-towing-law-reform?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/reform/" rel="tag">#Reform</a> <a href="/tags/poverty/" rel="tag">#Poverty</a></p>
<p>UPDATE: The Connecticut DMV and top state lawmakers have vowed to review towing laws after a CT Mirror and ProPublica investigation found that people’s cars can be sold just 15 days after they’re towed.</p><p><a href="https://propub.li/4h1Uw2E" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>propub.li/4h1Uw2E</a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/poverty/" rel="tag">#Poverty</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a></p>
<p>How Many Cars Have Connecticut Towing Companies Sold? The DMV Can’t Tell Us.<br>—</p><p>When reporters set out to quantify the impact of a Connecticut law that allows companies to sell some cars they’ve towed after just 15 days, the DMV said records would cost $47,000; it has revised the estimate but hasn't given us the records.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-towing-public-records?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-towing-public-records?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-dmv-towing-public-records?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a> <a href="/tags/foia/" rel="tag">#FOIA</a> <a href="/tags/research/" rel="tag">#Research</a></p>
<p>For years, a Connecticut towing company sold cars at a deep discount to a firm owned by a longtime DMV employee, Dominik Stefanski.</p><p>In one case, he bought a Cadillac for $1,000 and sold it for $17,500.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-fires-employee-who-made-thousands-selling-towed-cars?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-fires-employee-who-made-thousands-selling-towed-cars?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-dmv-fires-employee-who-made-thousands-selling-towed-cars?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a></p>
<p>Not sure this still works</p><p>But if you also refuse to be part of a car beta test try put a cone on a self-driving car and it'll stop. Forever <img src="https://neodb.social/media/emoji/mstdn.social/Bhole.png" class="emoji" alt=":Bhole:" title=":Bhole:"> </p><p><a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a></p>
<p>In my blog<br><a href="/tags/autocade/" rel="tag">#Autocade</a> World: the site of the book of the site</p><p><a href="https://jackyan.com/blog/2025/02/autocade-world-the-site-of-the-book-of-the-site/" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="jackyan.com/blog/2025/02/autocade-world-the-site-of-the-book-of-the-site/"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">jackyan.com/blog/2025/02/autoc</span><span class="invisible">ade-world-the-site-of-the-book-of-the-site/</span></a> <br><a href="https://autocade.world" rel="nofollow"><span class="invisible">https://</span>autocade.world</a></p><p><a href="/tags/autocadeworld/" rel="tag">#AutocadeWorld</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#cars</a> <a href="/tags/publishing/" rel="tag">#publishing</a></p>
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<p>For years, a Connecticut towing company got to cut the line at the DMV in exchange for selling towed cars at deep discounts, according to a DMV report, allowing one DMV employee to resell them for steep profits.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-employee-sells-towed-cars?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-employee-sells-towed-cars?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-dmv-employee-sells-towed-cars?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a> <a href="/tags/business/" rel="tag">#Business</a></p>
<p>Connecticut Lawmakers Seek Overhaul of Towing Laws<br>—</p><p>A new bill addresses nearly all of the issues raised in a Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica investigation that found people’s cars were being sold shortly after they were towed.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-lawmakers-seek-overhaul-of-towing-laws?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-lawmakers-seek-overhaul-of-towing-laws?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-lawmakers-seek-overhaul-of-towing-laws?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/poverty/" rel="tag">#Poverty</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a></p>
<p>Following reporting by ProPublica and The Connecticut Mirror, Connecticut lawmakers passed reforms on a century-old towing law. But they don’t solve all the problems that vehicle owners have raised.</p><p>Here’s what they told us.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-drivers-towing-law-reform?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-drivers-towing-law-reform?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-drivers-towing-law-reform?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/reform/" rel="tag">#Reform</a></p>
<p>Connecticut DMV Never Set Up System to Enforce a Century-Old Towing Law<br>—</p><p>Towing companies can sell vehicles if owners don’t reclaim them or can’t afford the fees. To protect drivers, they’re supposed to turn over unclaimed profits, but the state says that’s never happened.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-towing-law-enforcement?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-towing-law-enforcement?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-dmv-towing-law-enforcement?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a></p>
<p><a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> DMV Committee Expands Study of Towing Law to Help Low-Income Residents Get Their <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> Back<br>==</p><p>The working group was created as part of a towing reform law passed in response to a ProPublica and Connecticut Mirror investigation into towing practices in the state.</p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#news</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#law</a> <a href="/tags/government/" rel="tag">#government</a> <a href="/tags/newengland/" rel="tag">#newengland</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-towing-law-reforms?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-mastodon-post&utm_content=9-09" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-dmv-towing-law-reforms?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-mastodon-post&utm_content=9-09"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-dmv-towing-law-reforms?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-mastodon-post&utm_content=9-09</span></a></p>
<p>A Connecticut DMV Task Force Was Asked to Develop Towing Reforms. As Deadline Looms, Members Struggle to Agree.<br>---</p><p>The group was formed in a legislative overhaul prompted by a Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica investigation that found the state’s laws favored towing companies over vehicle owners.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-dmv-reform-overhaul?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-dmv-reform-overhaul?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-towing-dmv-reform-overhaul?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/dmv/" rel="tag">#DMV</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/reform/" rel="tag">#Reform</a></p>
<p>“Step in the Right Direction”: Connecticut DMV Commissioner Calls for More Reforms to Towing Law to Protect Drivers<br>---</p><p>The recommendations to require more notification to car owners and to streamline the process for selling unclaimed vehicles follow a Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica investigation into towing practices.</p><p><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-dmv-proposal-update?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-dmv-proposal-update?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/con</span><span class="invisible">necticut-towing-dmv-proposal-update?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/connecticut/" rel="tag">#Connecticut</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/towing/" rel="tag">#Towing</a> <a href="/tags/vehicles/" rel="tag">#Vehicles</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/regulation/" rel="tag">#Regulation</a></p>
<p>Transport Evolved publishes videos about electric vehicles and related topics. (Don't worry, they hate Elon Musk too, they tell people how to avoid his products.)</p><p>You can follow at:</p><p>➡️ <span class="h-card"><a href="[{'type': 'Link', 'href': 'https://peertube.tv/a/transportevolved/video-channels', 'mediaType': 'text/html'}, {'type': 'Link', 'href': 'https://peertube.tv/a/transportevolved', 'mediaType': 'text/html'}, {'type': 'Link', 'href': 'https://peertube.tv/accounts/transportevolved', 'mediaType': 'text/html'}]" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>transportevolved</span></a></span> </p><p>They've published over 50 videos so far. If the videos haven't federated to your server yet, you can browse them all at <a href="https://peertube.tv/a/transportevolved/videos" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="peertube.tv/a/transportevolved/videos"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">peertube.tv/a/transportevolved</span><span class="invisible">/videos</span></a></p><p>If the account looks blank, follow it and its videos will gradually start showing up.</p><p><a href="/tags/featuredpeertube/" rel="tag">#FeaturedPeerTube</a> <a href="/tags/peertube/" rel="tag">#PeerTube</a> <a href="/tags/electricvehicles/" rel="tag">#ElectricVehicles</a> <a href="/tags/evs/" rel="tag">#EVs</a> <a href="/tags/ev/" rel="tag">#EV</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a></p>
<p>New Portland Trail Blazers Owner Played Key Role at Company Oregon Accused of Predatory Lending<br>---</p><p>Documents obtained by ProPublica and Oregon Public Broadcasting reveal that Tom Dundon was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” to waive proof-of-income requirements at Santander Consumer USA.<br><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/tom-dundon-moda-center-portland-oregon?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post" rel="nofollow" class="ellipsis" title="www.propublica.org/article/tom-dundon-moda-center-portland-oregon?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">www.propublica.org/article/tom</span><span class="invisible">-dundon-moda-center-portland-oregon?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post</span></a></p><p><a href="/tags/news/" rel="tag">#News</a> <a href="/tags/portland/" rel="tag">#Portland</a> <a href="/tags/oregon/" rel="tag">#Oregon</a> <a href="/tags/nba/" rel="tag">#NBA</a> <a href="/tags/basketball/" rel="tag">#Basketball</a> <a href="/tags/law/" rel="tag">#Law</a> <a href="/tags/cars/" rel="tag">#Cars</a> <a href="/tags/loan/" rel="tag">#Loan</a> <a href="/tags/business/" rel="tag">#Business</a></p>