EL CENTRO - Several Imperial County residents that had their cars towed during a cheerleading competition on Sunday are looking for answers as to why they were left with no transportation.
It was supposed be a day full of fun and entertainment, and it was, inside the Southwest High School gym, but outside was a different story as it was the nightmare for at least 8 Imperial Valley residents.
Those 8 residents are looking to be reimbursed for the $175 fee that they had to pay Premier Towing in El Centro to get their car out of the tow yard.
Carmen is going through tough times and said that she had to spend every penny she had to get her car back so that her and her daughter could get back to their home in Brawley.
"I am very upset", she says. "We came to this great event with our children and for them to have our cars towed and leave us on foot is unfair. Some of us don't have that kind of money to get us out of these situations".
The cars were towed from the front area at Southwest High School. The area is supposed to be reserved as fire lanes and parking is not allowed but the paint on the curve is no longer red and it easily confused the many that attended the event. There are also no signs indicating that it is a fire lane. The only sign visible is one that directs parents to the student pick up area.
Imperial resident Luis Perez had his car towed despite having his disability placard in plain view. He says that there was no more disability parking left and had to opt for a spot near the school entrance.
"I feel bad, very angry", he says "I feel like they violated my rights. I had a disability placard and they still towed my car. What they did is wrong".
With the cheerleading event being such a huge success, Carmen is wondering why there was no ushers or anyone guiding motorists as to where they should park.
"Of course there should've been someone designated for that. It was a big event and at big events there is always security and personnel helping those that are arriving".
Central union high school district superintendent Doctor Tom Budde says that the school rented the gym out and had no control over the parking situation during the event.
In an email received from the coordinators of the cheerleading event it stated : "Although it was a Pop Warner event, people still need to follow the law".
The Fire Marshall was off on Monday so we could not determine whether in fact Southwest High School is out of compliance for not having the proper signage or not properly maintaining the curve.
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