Towing Issues: Patrol Towing, handicap parking spaces, handicap parking space

Question
We live in a town house community in Riverside, CA.  There is a sign posted on the fence that states parking permit required all others will be towed at the owners expense with the tow truck drivers name and phone number.  Last night due to no parking spots available, my boyfriend parked in the Handicap parking space.  This morning when he went to go to work his car was not there.  He called the towing company and asked if they had his car, which they did.  He does have a parking permit but they told him it was towed for being parked in the handicap spot.  This tow company patrols constantly and tows without any authorazation.  Also, when he called the tow truck company that towed his vehicle they told him it was cash only.  Is this ok for the tow company to do?

Answer
If the vehicle doesn't have a handicap placard, license plate or any other method showing the vehicle is allowed in a handicap parking space the vehicle will get towed regardless of residency or other allowable parking permit. The handicap parking spaces are reserved for handicap individuals only, no exceptions. A handicap parking space is no different in a apartment complex as it is in front of a courthouse, the mall or city street. As a side note and depending how much the tow was, if the vehicle was ticketed by a officer some handicap parking violation fines are about $250 to $300 plus the tow.

My suggestion is to ask management what the proper procedure would have been since no parking spaces were available. Most tow companies are now required to accept other methods of payment other than cash. Some terms and conditions do apply when accepting credit cards and vary from company to company. Most of all professional tow companies offer other forms of payment.