Towing Issues: Personal property in a towed car, illegal spot, tow rope

Question
My husband was in an accident right in front of our home in Hampton N.H. and while he was in the ambulance getting checked our car was towed down the road to the towers establishment - We went the next day to get my husbands Eye glasses and our second set of house keys from the vehicle and make arrangements to get the totaled car sent to a wrecker - The tow agency would not release his glasses or our keys without payment  stated we could only get medications if there were any. This caused an angry exchange of words by my husband who had almost been killed and needed his glasses for night driving- and had to go to work that evening as we didn't have the money at that very second and needed the house key because we work off shifts- the man said NOTHING will be released without payment. My husband left slamming the door- the tower called the police (BECAUSE MY HUSBAND SLAMMED HIS DOOR) and we waited - we were only able to get our house key and not his glasses.  Is this legal for a Tower to keep these sorts of items? Also the police- one not very nice stated the law states that once a tow company hitches your car up - They own it? and everything in it? no matter what it is?until you pay the towing and storage fees... Mind you it was there for less then 24 hours. Then to top it off - I went back in and paid 175.00 to get my husbands glasses and where to deliver it - they were given specific directions and they dropped in the wrong place. I called the when The car was not delivered and they said they had - It was on the opposite side of where we lived and in an illegal spot - They refused to correct their mistake unless we paid for another Tow. My husband and I ended up using a tow rope and towed it ourselves with out other car. I want to pursue this if what they did was not legal. If its the law, its a ridiculous law, but I tried and tried and could not find anything about it- not that I understood anyway. Thanks in Advance!!!

Answer
You said your husband was in the ambulance, was he transported? Did the PD ask if he had a preference for a towing service or even bother to note that he was in front of his own residence? The officer was not correct, they don't own the vehicle, but most states do provide for a lien on vehicles and property when they are towed. This is acceptable but certain personal items should at least be "ethically" considered, such as glasses and keys. You need to check with the PD to see if they have a written policy that provides for towing request (owners request). As for the second tow they should have been responsible for towing the vehicle to the proper location.