Towing Issues: My First Impounding Experience, financial bind, tow driver

Question
Hello There, I hope you can help me release my frustration/anger of my "1st experience of being "impounded" yesterday. Friday night I attended my daughters' orchestra performance at her University. It is 120 miles from my home. I had intended to drive home afterwards but was too tired, so decided to spend the night in her apartment. There is a "restricted parking" policy that is posted...so tried to find off street parking. After driving around
3 times,could not find any available place to park..the side streets were covered with snow...and most "public" spots were taken by students who SHOULD HAVE BEEN in the lot, but took these spaces because it was closer to their apartments.I decided that I was NOT going to park in the grocery store lot 3 blocks ago..I parked in her lot. In the morning I went to drive home, my gosh, my car had been towed...I found out they took it 20 minutes AFTER I parked it....it would cost me $175.00 cash only...had to get a CAB to get to the scarey impound lot. I was treated as if I was a criminal...$175.00 cash only lady...I had $20.00 in my checking
account...ni lie..I am in a terrible financial bind right now...I called my daughters' apt manager ...I told her the situation...she said she would call the tow driver and see what she could do...2 hours later after numerous phone calls, pleading, crying   the "owner" reduced the fee to $125.00..I still was treated like I was a criminal...I had to borrow this money from a STUDENT...to get my car back...I am writing to ask you "where do they get these fees from...and do they have to get permission to tow a car and "20 minutes" after I parked????? I think they were staking me out...I want this money back from someone...I feel as if I have been robbed..I was told to be grateful that the fee was reduced because "he never reduces the fee FOR ANYONE"...do you have any advice??...you know, that parking lot was 1/2 full/empty...WITH NO WHERE ELSE TO PARK...I am just a parent who went to see her daughter play in an orchestra who decided to spend the night...This incident was in South Bend Indiana...I guess in a private student parking lot..yes signs were posted...bur 20 minutes LATER????? Thanks for any advice, Elaine

Answer
Whenever a vehicle is towed without consent always evoke emotions and is natural to vent frustrations. The bottom line regardless of the situation is the vehicle was parked without proper authorization. The tow company has a contractual obligation to monitor and enforce the parking regulations regardless of how full or empty the parking lot was. As for the time the vehicle was towed it doesn't matter if it was 2 minutes or 2 hours the vehicle wasn't authorized to be parked there. I don't think reimbursement will be possible since the property was posted.

From a tow company stand point please understand we hear all sorts of stories everyday and most people try to do whatever they can to get out of a tow bill. It is unfortunate the vehicle was towed but hopefully next time you have to park at your daughter's residence you and or your daughter will know the proper procedure for visiting vehicles. Have your daughter contact the management office for authorized parking or vistor permits so this doesn't happen again.