Towing Issues: tow company refuses to release motorcycle, california highway patrol, rosemond california

Question
my motorcycle was impounded 30 days ago i was not riding the bike at the time the person who was had a suspended license, i have owned the bike since 1980 it is registered to me and insured as special construction the frame does not have vin numbers on it but the frame is a Harley Davidson frame 1960 the engine has proper numbers and i have all my receipts for every part on the bike so, the California highway patrol  in rosemond california that impounded it placed it on a thirty day hold , they placed an investigation on no vin  numbers, officially the bike was released yesterday the day before yesterday i went to the tow yard where the bike originally was  in kern county and attempted to pay the thirty day hold the bike was transferred to another location crossing into another county, now it is in los angeles county ( where i live)i went to where the bike was located and paid the man who was in charge 1100.00 he did not want to give me any receipt because it was cash i demanded a receipt, he complied with my request. yesterday i went to the impounding agency that had it impounded to get the proper release papers and paid the California highway patrol  100.00 and i have a receipt for that, they said they verified the bike and it was available for release but advised me to go directly to the department of motor vehicles and the California highway patrol to have frame numbers issued. i went from there to the tow company that was storing the bike and the same man who took my money said he wasn't able to release it because it didn't have a vin number, my question is because it is a very rare and valuable motorcycle i believe he wants to keep the bike for himself , i have never was sent any paperwork as for any Klein on it like they would normally send during the thirty day hold time, but was told he just needed the police impounding agency to verify it and if they released it then i pay the fees and get my bike, this tow company refuses to release the bike is he legally entitled to keep my bike?

Answer
Sounds like you need to get CHP and the impounding agency involved with the tow company.

It sounds like you have done everything required to get it released, paid the fees and got the paperwork. If he is not letting it go then he could be breaking the law and even the rules of his contract with the Police or CHP.

You might be right, he might be trying to keep it, but I bet that a few well placed calls will help in this matter and if it comes down to it the a lawyer might be worth it for the phone call or letter.

Conversion is a very serious issue with police towing and it sounds like they want to try that very gray and illegal area.

Lawyer up is great advise if you can.