Dollar General Tows Vehicles During Carnival

Although the parking lot at Dollar General had ample spaces for customers, store officials at Dollar General authorized 19 vehicles towed Saturday during the Watermelon Carnival. Earlier in the morning the parking lot was full making it difficult for customers to park and do business with the store. After an announcement and a sign was placed in the lot (above), there was plenty of parking space for store customers. – Photo by David Howell

By David Howell
Editor

WATER VALLEY –  The parking lot at Dollar General in Water Valley was a hotbed of activity Saturday as store officials authorized five or six vehicles to be towed for parking in the store’s privately owned parking lot.

    The vehicles were towed after an announcement was broadcast at the park’s gazebo warning anyone who had parked at Dollar General to move their vehicle if they were not a customer at the business.

    “I heard the radio traffic on the city police channel and advised the Chamber to tell everyone,” Sheriff Lance Humphreys said.  Many of the vehicles were moved following the announcement.

    At mid-morning a  buggy was also  placed in the store’s parking lot, with a sign warning vehicle operators not to park in the store’s lot if they were not shopping at the business.

    The list of towed vehicles included several vendors who had parked across the road at the Dollar General parking lot.

    One vehicle owner, Todd Hughes, reported that wrecker bill was $65.

    “We had purchased a lot of items from the store earlier,” Hughes told the Herald. Hughes’ family was operating a lemonade stand at the carnival and his dually Ford pickup was towed by Self Auto Repair.

    A family member had parked the vehicle  outside of the designated parking area near Central Street earlier.     Hughes, a frequent vendor at the carnival, added that he knew other venders had also purchased items at the business.

    “It  has got to be good for their business,” Hughes said about business during carnival weekend.

    “I was concerned about having my truck towed,” Hughes said. “I don’t like a wrecker hooked to my truck.” Hughes added that when he crawled under his pickup he discovered that  his vehicle’s towing hitch was damaged.

    Hughes, who was out of town Saturday, did thank tow truck operator Jerry Self, who allowed a family member to immediately retrieve the vehicle.

    “He said I could come by later and pay the bill,” Hughes added. The vehicle was needed, as Hughes was working at another festival in another town.

    Repeated call’s to Dollar General’s corporate headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tenn. were not returned by press deadline Tuesday.

    Water Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bennett Hill reported that he also he fielded complaints from the situation.

    “We told them that was a private parking lot, the police department, chamber  or city officials did not have anything to do with it,” Hill told the Herald.

    “We all need to learn from this regrettable situation,” Water Valley Mayor Larry Hart said. “We certainly want to look out for the welfare of our merchants, while at the same time making our carnival guests as comfortable as possible. We will certainly do a better job for future carnivals in our city.”