QuestionSAN DIEGO, CA:
I parked on the street in Little Italy in San Diego on a Friday night in a space labeled "15min parking from 8am to 6pm" - When I came out to get my car at 7:30am the next morning it had been towed. There was a temporary sign on a tree about 5 spaces up the street indicating a tow zone after 6am on Saturday due to an event (festival). This sign was only posted in front of one space and made no reference to the entire street or block or even an arrow that would indicate all spaces left of the sign. I saw this sign when I parked but assumed it referred only to the one space since it did not indicate anything further. I reclaimed my car from the tow yard at a fee of $200. The tow slip shows that although this was street parking, it was private and authorized by someone working for the Little Italy Association.
Considering there was no signage posted for the space I parked in, do I have a case?
(Thanks in advance)
AnswerWell as I see this question in its different locations all the time, I have to say that it sounds legal in definition to me...
The reason that I say that is there at times is no way to post a sign in each space on a block to warn of "special conditions for parking".
Was there a "15 minute parking sign" there for each parking space?
See where I am going to?
Signs like this are what I refer to as "equal to speed limit signs" as they apply in a broad area. You do not only do the speed limit at the actual sign, and speed everywhere else.
As to taking this to court, well you always have that option and I can not say you will win or lose, but I would bet on the later if I was betting on it.
Sorry that I can not offer a better answer for you, but even though California has strict laws on towing, that is the best answer I can give you in this case....
If you want to search the California DMV web site for more information you are welcome to, and its a rather large site and has lots of sections regarding parking and towing you can. The link is below...
www.dmv.ca.gov
