Towing Issues: was my car towed illegally?, stopsign, towing company

Question
I was recently in State College, PA for a conference. A colleague invited people over to her home for a dinner party. She lives in a very large parking complex. My husband and I drove there in a rental car and parked in the lot in front of her apartment. When we came out later that evening our car was missing. A neighbor was outside and informed us that our car might have been towed. What! There were NO sings in the lot and the spaces were unmarked. The neighbor informed us that there is permit parking and that visitors are often towed, but how are visitors to know this. The women that we were speaking to did not even know where we might be able to find info. about the towing company. We called the police and confirmed that it was towed and we got the info. for the towing company. But where were the signs?! It turns out that the only signs were small signs posted ten feet from the turn into the entrance, about 10 feet IN FRONT of the stopsign. In this way, a person would need to stop as soon as they turn into the entrance to read the sign (which could cause a problem because you would be blocking the entrance, I also have pictures) and then stop again at the stop sign. In other words, unless you know to look there is no way that a visitor coming to this large complex for the first time would see that sign. Further, since there is a stop sign about ten feet later why not place the sign at the stop sign where people will actually see it. Also there were no other signs or markings anywhere near the actual lot... Can we make a claim against the apartment complex for not having proper signage?

Answer
The chances of a claim against the apartment complex will be very hard to dispute. Lets look at the situation, your vehicle is parked on private property which wasn't authorized and you didn't see the tow signs and have pictures of. If you are looking for blame then start with the tenant who should have informed you about the parking enforcement and required visitor's permit or designated visitor's parking areas. Granted I understand your point for not immediately spotting the sign or other form of parking enforcement but it could have all been avoided if the resident informed of the parking enforcement. As for the signs they do seem to be displayed as required with most laws and or ordinances. Most laws imply that parking enforcement signs are required to be displayed at every entrance of the parking lot. It's only natural to be upset and blame parking management or tow company but the tenant would know the rules and regulation in which they live. Since you were a visitor on private property you would have to abide by their rules and regulations as well.