'I can't catch a break': DC charged victims of allegedly violent carjacking $2,000 to get car out of impound

A Washington, D.C., family who already endured an allegedly violent carjacking was victimized again after the city charged them thousands of dollars to get their stolen vehicle out of impound.

According to a report from WJLA, the trouble began back in November after the husband of Michelle Terrell worked a long shift as a driver for a food delivery service. When he returned to the couple's residence in northwest D.C. and attempted to park his car outside, he was carjacked at gunpoint, Terrell told the outlet.

Police recovered the stolen vehicle about two months later, and the Department of Public Works apprised the couple of the news via letter. Unfortunately, the letter was sent to an old address, and Mrs. Terrell received the letter by happenstance sometime in February when she visited her former home to look for tax forms.

"If I didn't go there to check the mail and just to make sure to see if I had any W-2s [or] 1099s, I would never have even received the letter," she claimed.

Terrell then went to the impound lot to retrieve her family's stolen SUV. Even though she could see her car from the sidewalk, she still couldn't drive it home after she learned that the city charged her more than $2,000 to cover the cost of towing and storage. To make matters worse, the thieves had also accrued at least one ticket on the city's traffic cameras — a ticket that was ultimately assessed against Terrell's family.

"I can't catch a break, but this time around I'm just determined to not give up," she said. Terrell reached out to the city, which eventually agreed to reduce some of the charges.

WJLA likewise reached out to the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles, which hinted that Terrell and her husband may actually be to blame for some of the hefty fines. "The DC Department of Motor Vehicles communicates with customers based on the last known address we have on file," its statement said, according to the outlet. "We advise customers to update their contact information with the agency as soon as possible whenever they change addresses."

When the family moved and whether they promptly updated their contact information with the city is unclear. Still, a DMV representative claimed that the agency would take a second look at Terrell's case.

For now, Michelle Terrell's car remains locked in the impound lot, and she suggests that all vehicle theft victims contact the DMV immediately after filing a police report.

"I just pray that no one else becomes a victim for the second time around because that's what's happening in my situation."

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