ABC-7 LISTENS: Cars towed from Sun Metro facility, mishaps corrected

Four cars were towed from Sun Metro’s Al Jefferson Westside Transfer Center, 7835 Remcon Circle, Tuesday night and the transit company says they’ve corrected all problems with the vehicle’s owners.

Todd Kaime reached out to ABC-7 and said his car, along with three others, were towed from the facility. He travels to El Paso from Las Cruces five days a week for work.

“When I came off the bus and it wasn’t there … I didn’t get upset,” Kaime said. “I was just like, where’s my car?”

Sun Metro’s director, Jay Banasiak, said the four cars towed were parked at the facility four nights in a row. He admitted the nighttime security guard on duty called in for the tows, but that’s because he didn’t know the morning security officer sees the cars regularly being used.

“We had them towed just as a precaution. In public transit, we have to be extra safe and secure,” Banasiak said.

Kaime said he leaves one car at each end of the park and ride. One in El Paso and another at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. That way whichever city he’s in, he has a way to get around.

The website for the New Mexico Department of Transportation Park & Ride says the program is a partnership between the Texas Department of Transportation and Sun Metro. Kaime has used it for three years and has never been towed before.

He was driven to work the day his car was missing from the lot by a Sun Metro employee and was even taken to the tow yard in far east El Paso to pick up his car.

“They paid for all the bills and everything so I don’t fault them but somebody in Sun Metro,” Kaime said. He and Sun Metro are hoping the mishap doesn’t stop people from using the park and ride.

“People are encouraged to use park and ride. Whether it’s overnight or not. We have security and we’ll make sure they are all briefed on what to do,” Banasiak said.

Parking is free at the Westside Transfer Center. Sun Metro says overnight parking is allowed.