Towing Issues: Towing from Burger King, sign issues, delaware dmv, newark delaware

Question
Hello!  I was towed last night from the private lot of a Burger King in Newark, Delaware.  Their sign says verbatim "Parking For Customers Only, Violators Will Be Towed."  The only other sign in the lot had details about the towing company's information and rates.  Nowhere was there any information about a time limit or a specification that parking was for "eat-in" customers only.  

I've called the towing company and debated with the owner for a few minutes the definition of "customer."  In my opinion, which is moot, customer is simply "someone who has paid for goods or services."   So I had thought that my bases were covered with my receipt stating that I had purchased a meal at 6:55.  But the towing guy said that customer means "someone eating in the restaurant."  The towing guy also said that the call for the tow came in at 7:15, a mere 5-10 minutes after we left the restaurant!!!

I have called the Delaware DMV to try and get pointed to their laws for towing from private property and the explicitness of the signs necessary.  They sent me to the police and I talked to the Captain who told me that the issue wasn't really a legal one and that it was an issue to take up with the manager.

Now I'm not going to try and hide the fact that I left the restaurant parking lot to go to a store just across the street.  I did stay there for three hours painting, but felt secure that I was a regular, paying customer of Burger King.  The best part is that I almost always get food from BK after I am done painting to eat on my way home!!!

So I am a little outraged and would like to know if there is any way I can fight this.  I plan on calling the general manager tomorrow to debate the syntax of the sign, although it doesn't seem like there are any laws governing towing and the signs that indicate to potential towees the conditions under which they'll be towed.

Answer
I am not really going to go into this issue as it sounds like you are splitting hairs here on wording...

But as a general rule, customer means that the person is on the property and patronizing the business.

As to "specific signs" which state time frames and such definitions of "CUSTOMER" I think that you will not find any rules or regulations on that issue...



As you say, you left Burger King and went to a store across the street (which most likely has parking of its own)
But I really question your definition of CUSTOMER. I want to ask you, that if I was to come visit you and park in your driveway, could I leave the vehicle there for hours on end, even if you had to leave to go to work and I was in your way.  Would you think that is right...

Or if you lived next to Walmart, could your friends come park in your driveway and go to Walmart ???

I think you can see where I am going...

But this question does not sound like I will really be able to provide you with an answer which you will like...

Sorry.