Quote Originally Posted by clublights View Post
It's my understanding that "someone" ( manager etc.) MUST call the tow company.. they can't just drive around snatching up cars willy nilly.

Pretty sure thats a state law.
You are wrong. If they have a sign posted they can tow. Some can and do "haunt" parking lots. Those are the sleazy disreputable ones. I know of a local tow company that purchased several small lots for the sole purpose of having justification to tow ANYONE who parks there. I have been present at events where local businesses -- including strip malls and supermarket plazas -- have a couple of sandwich boards posted at the entries reading "NO EVENT PARKING" and there is a literal fleet of tow trucks being directed by a dozen spotters to tow and impound any car owned by any person who walks off premises. Once, in another state, I saw them pull nearly 100 cars in a single day during a free music festival across from a strip mall parking lot.

The tow company I'm familiar with takes a digital photo of each car before they tow it, and if it is a tenant's vehicle they put a notice sticker on the window explaining the violation and telling them they have 72 hours to correct it or move the vehicle. Tow fee plus impound fee exceeds $200, and there is a daily storage fee added to that.