Northridge (Los Angeles County), California
First post...here it goes
My car was towed last week because I unknowingly (not that they care) parked in a zone that was labeled tow-away from 4pm-7pm. I was devastated, especially since I tried so hard not to get a ticket (or towed for that matter). I even got out of the car after parking and looked around for any signs. I didn't see any and assumed it was safe, but I was wrong. It's not my fault the signs were spaced a football field's length apart, and were 12 feet high, with numerous trees on either side! After some research, the law here seems to state that there need be only ONE sign at the beginning of the block, and so long as it is visible from the street (not from where you are parked) it is a fair game for the city...those crooks. Unfortunately, while the signage was poor, it did fulfill that requirement and I do not have a case. Feel free to comment if you think otherwise. But I digress.
After trying to forget about this traumatic experience (that truly is the only way to describe it), it just occurred to me that there is a possibility my car was towed after 7pm. The officer wrote the ticket shortly after 5:30pm, and God knows how long it would take a tow truck to get there during rush hour on that busy street.
My question is, since the sign said tow-away zone from 4pm-7pm, IF my car was not actually towed until after 7pm, would I have a case to contest the tow-away and have my tow/impound fees possibly refunded or reduced? Even if I don't have a likely case (I've already accepted I'm just a helpless victim at the complete mercy of the city), I would be very curious to know whether or not it is legal for them to tow a vehicle outside of the time frame specified on the sign.
First post...here it goes
My car was towed last week because I unknowingly (not that they care) parked in a zone that was labeled tow-away from 4pm-7pm. I was devastated, especially since I tried so hard not to get a ticket (or towed for that matter). I even got out of the car after parking and looked around for any signs. I didn't see any and assumed it was safe, but I was wrong. It's not my fault the signs were spaced a football field's length apart, and were 12 feet high, with numerous trees on either side! After some research, the law here seems to state that there need be only ONE sign at the beginning of the block, and so long as it is visible from the street (not from where you are parked) it is a fair game for the city...those crooks. Unfortunately, while the signage was poor, it did fulfill that requirement and I do not have a case. Feel free to comment if you think otherwise. But I digress.
After trying to forget about this traumatic experience (that truly is the only way to describe it), it just occurred to me that there is a possibility my car was towed after 7pm. The officer wrote the ticket shortly after 5:30pm, and God knows how long it would take a tow truck to get there during rush hour on that busy street.
My question is, since the sign said tow-away zone from 4pm-7pm, IF my car was not actually towed until after 7pm, would I have a case to contest the tow-away and have my tow/impound fees possibly refunded or reduced? Even if I don't have a likely case (I've already accepted I'm just a helpless victim at the complete mercy of the city), I would be very curious to know whether or not it is legal for them to tow a vehicle outside of the time frame specified on the sign.