In December, Alison Copeland, a disabled driver with a handicap placard, said her car was wrongfully towed by Always Swift Towing from a Walmart parking lot in Virginia. The company claimed her tire was slightly over the line, preventing another car from parking, but Copeland insisted it wasn’t true. “This is my vehicle, and this is the right side back tire and it’s crossed the line,” Copeland said. “They indicated that it was preventing another car from parking in the next spot.”
Always Swift Towing defended their actions, stating, “Why did we tow her? Because she was double-parked. It’s over the line.” However, Copeland argued that another car’s improper parking forced her slightly over the line. Despite this, the company refused to reverse their decision, stating, “We are doing what Walmart wanted us to do.”
Frustrated, Copeland emailed Walmart’s CEO and corporate team. “I couldn’t sleep because of this. I wanted my money back, but I couldn’t sleep, and it gave me nightmares because it just wasn’t fair,” she said.
Following her complaint, Walmart responded and refunded Copeland the $375 towing fee. The store manager, Jamie Cobb, also worked to terminate Walmart’s contract with Always Swift Towing. In an email to Copeland, Cobb confirmed, “As of 12/24/24 they are no longer allowed on property.” The towing signs have since been removed.
Copeland, however, is still upset and is considering a civil lawsuit. “It is much deeper than the $375, because it appears to be a target towards the handicapped,” she said.
She also praised the media for amplifying her story. “I mean what you did was huge,” Copeland said. “Somebody has to stand up for what’s right. Don’t give up.”
