Towing Issues: recourse for predatory towing, predatory business practices, legal recourse

Question
Hello, I live in North Carolina and I have some questions regarding a towing incident that happened to me.  I ran out of gas and managed to coast into a Blockbuster parking lot to get out of traffic while I went and got gas.  When I got back I had been towed.  I live in a college town and the towing is rampant, and stories like mine are a dime a dozen.  I tried to look up the statutes in NC but they don't try to write them user-friendly.  I was just wondering if there is any recourse for these predatory business practices.  The towing company informed me that Blockbuster had not called to inform them that I had parked illegally they were just patrolling on one of the last days of before the students leave for the summer.  There has to be something un-ethical about these methods, and I was hoping to see if there was any legal recourse.

Answer
If the tow company was patroling the lot for illegaly parked vehicles, and yours was towed, then it should of be authorized by Blockbuster either on an individual authorization or a blanket authorization contract.

They can not just find vehicles parked in lots and take them. There have to be signs and such.
Now North Carolina has been revising the towing rules and regulations in the state and you might get some help.  check with the local police and see if they have any rules and regulations.

Andyou always have the rights to go through Small Claims court, if things do not work for you.