Towing Issues: Towing, privacy acts, authorization letters

Question
I have a few questions regarding towing.  My car was towed in the San Fernando Valley. It was parked in guest parking and a tenant had it towed because they wanted to park in my spot.  Because I was a guest I had the right to park there and there are no signs that state the tenant has the right to tow but they did it anyway.  Do you know if I have any rights?
Secondly I am visiting here on vacation.  I thought I had my current registration in my car.  Apparently I have an old one.  Are the towing companies linked with DMV or the police department?  Can't they check in their computers and release my car?  They are telling me that I have to show them my current registration.  Why is that?  Are they not link or do they need to verify with the information they have on file?

Answer
Well first of all, sorry to hear this, as it seems that you have had some bad luck.  

Guest parking is supposed to be for guests, and tenants should not be able to just call for the tow. Someone had to sign the authorization for the tow, and that is usually the property owner / manager who is authorized.

Signs for towing, I hope there were at least signs in the complex entrances or throughout the complex which are required by law to warn of possible towing.

Now the registration issue. NO towing companies are not usually hooked directly up to the DMV computers (something to do with privacy acts in California) But they can access the information easier than you can do it.

Proof of CURRENT REGISTRATION is one which establishes who owns the vehicle. Vehicles are released to the registered or legal owners of the vehicles or in some cases representatives of the above with signed notarized authorization letters.
Reason is that you can borrow your neighbors car and have it towed, but would YOU want to be able to get it out anytime by just saying you have the right to do so even if you were not the owner of it.  You could go claim any vehicle then, like that Porsche over there instead of driving that Pinto wagon you were driving.

They are covering their behinds from charges of theft by asking for the registrations.


Sometimes the police will help you redeem the vehicle, but not always.  

Hope this helps you