Towing Issues: Stolen car, good mileage, toyota camry

Question
Lisa,
If you cant help me maybe one of your readers in California can. On 07/23/08 my car was stolen (86 Toyota Camry that I paid $200 for). I called the police, they took the report over the phone. My car was/is legally registered til 12/08 and I carry the minimum car insurance that is legal in CA. I asked to be called if & when they recovered it, they did recover it on 07/25/08. No one called to let me know about my car. Now I received a lien(16 days after my car ws recovered) today 08/09/08. It said my car  was being put up for sale for storage/towing fees (almost $800.00 which I dont have). This is the first I have even heard about my car being recovered. When I called the police to find out what I could do, the person I talked to said they couldnt locate the file on my case and would need to do that to see what was going on. Now supposedly in CA W/I 72 hours the tow company is supposed to notify the police dept. and the DMV if the car isnt picked up and let them know about the lien sale that will be happening. Then I guess the DMV & police are suppose to notify me of this. No one has even notified me my car was found and yet I received this in the mail today.

Also I did notice what I received in the mail from ROADONE wasnt sent certified as it says its supposed to be (its printed on the front of the form). Anyway I feel like there must be some CA laws that protect the victim rather then punish the victim by charging them to get their car back. Cant somebody give me some good news and tell me that they cant sell my stolen car?!?! Its still in the tow yard and I cant afford to pay anything to get it back. It may look like crap but it does get good mileage in these time of over expensive gas prices and besides it is all I have for transportaion right now. I appreciate any advice you can give me in this matter. Thanks again Sheila in San Diego.

Answer
You seem to have done your homework, good for you. Now you need to check and see if the police don't have a contract with a towing company for tows just like this one. Yes, you should have been sent a registered letter between the third & seventh day.As you stated you are already the victim and should not be punished for an evil persons actions. How did the car get towed? By police request or perhaps a tow-a-way. Before the police would have had it towed, they would have run the tag & VIN, it would have come up 'STOLEN' the person should have been held for grand thief. If a tow-a-way company towed it, it should have been reported within the day (here an hour) from the time of tow, again it would have come up stolen.

Work with your local law enforcement to get your car back at no cost to you. From what you've told me, the police didn't even know a stolen car was found. Also, check into them holding it for so many days without sending you a registered, return receipt letter. CA may give them more than Florida's 3rd to the day, or no more storage can be charged. I clearly see three wrongs here: The police were not notified of the tow, the person who committed grand theft has gotten away with it, you should have been given a call to come get your vehicle if the police requested the tow, the tow company was willing to cause you more grief even after knowing the facts.

You did everything the right way. Get the case number and get some people to get to work on it ASAP!

Good Luck,
Lisa