Car towing company suspended from city program after turning Maspeth streets into junkyard

Irving Dejohn
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Thursday, July 7th 2011, 4:00 AM

A company that chronically parked junk cars on Maspeth streets has been suspended from a city program that authorized it to tow cars from accident scenes - much to the delight of frustrated residents.

The city Department of Consumer Affairs has removed American Auto Body & Recovery from the program, pending a hearing Thursday.

"DCA inspectors have issued violations to American Auto Body & Recovery, and as of last Thursday they will be suspended from the DARP program," said agency spokeswoman Abigail Lootens.

The company was part of the Directed Accident Response Program (DARP) and Rotation Tow Program (ROTOW), which allow towing from accidents and removing abandoned or stolen vehicles, respectively. The DCA regulates both programs.

DCA officials said that during two separate inspections, the company failed to present its DARP service call records.

Many locals and civic leaders questioned American Auto's inclusion in the program after the NYPD issued 86 summonses to the company in the first three months of this year.

The Daily News first reported in May about the company littering the area near its Flushing Ave. location with mangled and unmarked vehicles. Locals said their residential neighborhood had become a junkyard. DCA officials vowed to investigate.

American Auto owner Polina Loumakos declined comment on the upcoming hearing but defended the way her company operates.

"They just caught us on a bad day. Everything is done correctly at my shop," she said, adding that the cars on the street during the day were waiting to be transported. "I feel like all the media is trying to attack me. When you guys come here it's always during business hours," she said.

Residents who live near the shop were elated the city was taking action.

"If they take the program away from these guys they won't have any junked cars and everyone is going be happy," said Edison Bonifaz, 43, who lives on the same block as the body shop.

"We need people who can follow the law. We want to live in a nice neighborhood," he added.

Civic leaders said they were pleased with the agency's move.

"They were obviously in violation of the program and the guidelines, and I'm glad to see Consumer Affairs taking action," said Robert Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association. "It's about time."

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