Towing Issues: Illegal tow, u s census bureau, street meters

Question
I'm in CA and work for the U.S. Census Bureau, i talked to the property manager about doing some madatory cases on the premises, and she never mentioned a need of a permit. i parked my vehicle in a future resident parking spot, and displayed my Census Govt placard for parking. After completing my cases i found my car towed. She later said you need a permit if you're there later than 8pm and i didnt think you'd still be here. I've always used my placard and neve had an issue. Was that an illegal tow?

Answer
Well let me get this straight. You parked after asking if you could park and it took longer than you or her thought to do your job.

The complex requires permits and you were not issued one, nor a visitors permit, but you displayed a "Census Government Placard" which I guess goes with the job.

Now I have to ask, what "POWERS or AUTHORITY" does that placard give you. Can you speed, run red lights, not pay to park at meters, ignore private property rules, not pay for gas or anything like that with the "PLACARD"  

Reason I ask is that, YES I know that some things in certain places do get to "BEND a few rules"  I am not sure what your placard allows you to do. In some areas, handicapped placards do not have to pay for parking at street meters", Chaplain or Clergy placards in some places do not have to pay for parking either.

As to using the placard and not having a problem before, its one of those issues I believe were you were either lucky, or someone give you a break. That can be the reason also that you were not towed before but towed this time. Someone might not "KNOW WHAT POWERS - RIGHTS" your placard gives you.  I know that I do not know either and I drive tow truck.

But it sounds like it was a legal tow to me as "you did not have or display a valid parking permit for the complex you were in"