Tow Away Sign

In general, the California Building Code (CBC) incorporates provisions from the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and in many cases it makes them more restrictive.   The Tow Away Sign shown above is a case in point.

In California you are required to have a Tow Away Sign at every vehicle entry or at the location of the accessible parking stall.   In the Federal ADA, there is no such requirement.   Missing Tow Away Signs are one of the quickest ways to get involved in a lawsuit for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  It’s also important to note the ADA Tow Away sign is separate from any other Tow Away Signs on the property.   Many of my clients assume their regular Tow Away Signs are the same as the ADA Tow Away Sign and this is simply not true.

In addition to missing signs, the contact information as noted on the sign must be completed.   Missing information is the second quickest way to get involved in a lawsuit.   Owners are advised to contact the Traffic Enforcement Division of their local Police Department for contact information.

In addition to completing the sign with the required contact information, there are certain other requirements for the sign including overall size of the sign, text height on the sign and mounting height all of which could result in a lawsuit if they do not meet the requirements of the ADA.