QuestionI was parked at my friend's apartment complex in Tucson, AZ. I was in the covered parking section. I had second thoughts about this, but ended up leaving it and to my dismay when I returned, my car was gone. One of my friends checked the lot for tow signs and only found small signs wrapped around the poles that support the covered parking, nothing that was very visible. The small signs had the incorrect contact information and we had to wait till morning for security to call us back and tell us where the car had been towed. I had to pay $200 in cash. That was incredibly infuriating and now I'm trying to figure out if there are any regulations for towing signs. Just like a stop sign has a universal size, shouldn't a towing sign have one as well?? Is there anything I can do??
AnswerWhile you mention in the question you were having second thoughts about parking in the covered section, you had guessed right about the outcome..
Sign rules and regulations are varied across the country and even from town to town..
Arizona is no different with the rules... this is what I have found
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Revised Code of Arizona 9-499.05.
(B) The owner or agent of the owner of the private property shall be deemed to have given consent to unrestricted parking by the general public in any parking area of the private property unless such parking area is posted with signs as prescribed by this subsection which are clearly visible and readable from any point within the parking area and at each entrance. Such signs shall contain, at a minimum, the following:
1. Restrictions on parking.
2. Disposition of vehicles found in violation of the parking restrictions.
3. Maximum cost to the violator, including storage fees and any other charges that could result from the disposition of a vehicle parked in violation of parking restrictions.
4. Telephone number and address where the violator can locate the violator's vehicle.
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Now that being said, I understand the problem with the sign and the wrong numbers on it. That does happen from time to time as companies change, or go out of business (I know how can someone go out of business charging that kind of fee)
I know that Arizona recently changed the laws regarding towing of vehicles both under police direction and from Private Property and as such there have been changes..
What was legal last year might not be legal now... I hate to not really have answer on this, but the updated stuff I have I am going though and it is well over 100 pages of information to search.
But I really hate to be blunt, but at times the price for mistakes is great and it includes MONEY not just the learned knowledge from the mistake..
But best and safest answer about any kind of parking issues, is to be aware of the area and ask yourself if it really seems right to park there. As a rule covered spaces are for tenants and open spaces are for guests... Also most tow away signs are posted at the entrances to parking lots or apartment complexes so that anyone entering can see them..
If you see any sign in any lot, they my best advise is to see if you can meet the requirements they list.
