Abbey Court Apartments, known around Chapel Hill and Carrboro for its low rents, has been removing vehicles without management-issued stickers this week to relieve crowding.

Residents have responded with protests. Some have physically blocked the tow trucks from taking their cars.

"They've been throwing beer bottles and all kinds of things at the tow trucks. It's just totally out of control," said Crystally Wright, a resident who was trying to figure out where to park her 1971 Volkswagen because the paint is too scratched to receive a parking sticker. "It just needs a little paint job."

Carrboro police have responded several times this week, urging apartment manager Deedee Gill to cease towing at the Jones Ferry Road complex in the name of "equity," "justice" and keeping the peace, according to Chief Carolyn Hutchison.

"Many of the residents are trying to make ends meet and need the vehicles to get to and from work, etc.," Hutchison wrote in e-mail to Town Manager Steve Stewart. "As you might imagine, Abbey Court residents may not have the means to drive a pristine vehicle, but many are paying their rent, and now are unable to get a permit to park in their own home parking lot. This is a bad situation."

This past spring, Abbey Court, a collection of privately owned condominiums occupied mostly by renters, began issuing parking permits for vehicles that meet minimum criteria.

The condo association rules prohibit commercial trucks and vehicles with conspicuous body damage, and require tenants to hold title, registration, state inspection sticker and insurance for their vehicles.

The rules present a heavy burden for renters who can't afford to repair their vehicles, and immigrants who lack the documentation to own, register and insure a vehicle in their own names.

Many construction-related contractors who live at the complex also use the lot to park their work trucks -- mostly bulky pickup trucks and vans. A ban on these vehicles is now being enforced.

"We're not deliberately trying to be unfair to anyone," said Tina Grabus, vice president of the Tar Heel Cos., a property manager. "We're just trying to enforce the rules."

Management is also trying to keep the complex, located near a bus stop, from being used as an unofficial park and ride lot.

Residents, however, are miffed at the "conspicuous damage" rule and say Gill is applying it too strictly.

"She doesn't want any little scratch," said Alfonso Hernandez, 17. "My sister almost had her car towed, but she fought herself into the car and left."