ST. LOUIS – It began when a St. Louis woman was t-boned in the Ford Edge she’d recently purchased.

“No! I can’t believe this is happening!” Vivica Foxwell said about a scenario that became worse.

She said her Ford was towed to the City Tow Division’s lot, where she felt like it was held hostage.

“Ever since then, I’ve been trying to get it released,” she said.

Foxwell said a representative at the tow lot said they can’t release it to her until she has permanent plates, even though her temp tag is still good through the end of the month.

“There’s no violations or anything on the vehicle. It’s insured, of course,” Foxwell said. She even showed us her paperwork. Her tag is still good until April 30.

Streets Department Director Betherny Williams said it didn’t make sense to her either.

“I would say if these things are current, then we should issue that vehicle back,” she said.

Williams came down to the tow lot personally to investigate.

“At no given time do we want to keep vehicles here,” she said. “And it’s always our goal at city tow and the police department to give people their vehicles back.”

Williams learned Foxwell was wrongly denied her vehicle because the tow lot’s computer system did not recognize her valid, 90-day temp tag and mistook it for an expired, 30-day tag.

“Her tamp tag was current,” Williams said.

Foxwell and FOX 2 both found out her problem was solved with a phone call from city hall. That call came right after our interview.

“You’re good to go over there. She’s got a note into the lot saying you’re good to pick up your car,” a city spokesperson said.

Foxwell was elated.

“Thank you, that is awesome! That is awesome!” she said.

FOX 2 wants to hear from you if you’ve had an issue with the St. Louis tow lot. Tell us your story here.