Towing Issues: Car towed from private lot in Baltimore, MD, jeep cherokee, illegal parking

Question
Thank you for taking my question. I had my 98 Jeep Cherokee towed to the Baltimore city impound. I live in PA, have PA tags, and legal with no outstanding tickets or liens against my car. I'm staying with my father for a month to help him renovate his loft. On the 6th of August, 2008, I noticed my car was gone from it's parking space located in a private lot which is in his housing complex. I know the manager personally, know all the neighbors, and they all know me. I figured my car was stolen because no one would've had it towed since they know why I'm here. I called the tow service listed on the sign, but they said they didn't have it. Police were next, but wouldn't give me a report number. Still in Baltimore, my brother calls me from Philly to say I received a letter (on the 28th) saying the city (Baltimore) had my car. Now I have to pay $500 to get it out. The impound said they picked it up several blocks away on the 11th of August. Police didn't log it as stolen, so no report to give the impound. I didn't do anything illegal, why am I being treated like a criminal? Is this legal?!

Answer
Well, I question the fact of when  you first called the police were you inquiring as to if it had been towed, or to report it stolen...

I would think that if you knew it had not been towed for illegal parking then I would report it stolen. Seems like the correct thing to do...

Now since you say the letter says it was towed 5 days later from a different area, then it sounds like it was stolen to me and either dumped or just abandoned at the location...

Now I realize that you feel that you are being a victim 2 times, first that you had the vehicle stolen, and then you have to pay a towing fee for the vehicle to be released... Yes I understand the feeling..  But I have to ask you, do you think the tow company should tow the vehicle for free ???

You as a vehicle owner are responsible for various things, including insurance. And you are the one who decides how much of a risk you take financially by the level of insurance you take out...Full coverage would have coverage for theft of the vehicle. Basic liability means you take a bigger risk if something happens.

Now if you did file a stolen vehicle report with the police and they  managed to screw up and not list it as stolen in either local or NCIC databases then it might be something you can try to work out with them.. But I do not think they will do much about it. Hard to say...

Basically it sounds like they followed the procedures that are in place, but as to legal or not, I can not really comment on that as I am not there and did not see what was done...  Plus I am just a tow truck driver not a lawyer...