Resident asks county to investigate truck impound, county attorney cites safety and legal violations

A Geneva County resident asked the Commission on Jan. 12 to investigate the impoundment and subsequent towing and storage of his truck, but county officials said the vehicle and mobile home posed safety and legal problems that justified towing and other actions.

Danny Lee told the commission he was assisting a friend moving a mobile home in March 2024 when the axle broke, leaving the mobile home and his truck obstructing the roadway. Lee said he paid court fees but still could not retrieve his truck and that he had spoken with Sheriff Helms without resolution; he said he was told the fee to retrieve the vehicle would be $6,000 and requested an investigation into the Sheriff’s Department.

County Attorney Phil Eldridge read the incident report and described the official account: deputies and State Trooper Dotson responded March 28, 2024, to a mobile home illegally on Airport Road blocking lanes; the truck remained attached to the mobile home, two tires were intact but others were blown out, and the vehicle had no tag or insurance and an obscured VIN. Eldridge said the State Troopers issued citations for improper tires, improper load limits, oversize load and missing flags, and that Lee pled guilty to those charges. He referenced Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 810-4-2.09, which requires a moving permit to transport a mobile home, and said towing and storage actions were taken because the vehicle was not legal to be driven on state roadways.

Eldridge added that the mobile home remained on the roadway for months, presented a public-safety hazard and that Road & Bridge crews later demolished and hauled the mobile home to the county landfill at a county expense of $4,579.32. He said the county is not in possession of the resident’s personal belongings. Commissioner Bart Wilks questioned whether the impoundment and towing were matters for the county or between the resident and the towing company; no formal investigation or action was taken by the commission at the meeting.

Why it matters: The dispute raises questions about towing and storage fees, enforcement of roadway-safety laws, and recovery of personal property. The county’s account cites legal violations and public-safety costs; the resident asked for review of how the matter was handled.

What’s next: The commission did not direct a formal investigation at the meeting. Lee’s complaint was heard; county staff and the Sheriff’s Office could be requested to provide additional records or follow-up if commissioners or the resident seek it.