Towing Issues: My Car Was Towed, fire hydrant, lawful possession


Question
My car was towed lst night around 8:45 in Newport Beach. I was at the apartment complex for a quick 20minute visit to hear my alarm going down the street. He had already hooked it up when my boyfriend was running down the street after him. We were there for about 20 minutes. Do you know if this is legal?  

Answer
well  as to legal,  hard to say if its really legal from the point that I have no idea if the vehicle was in a firelane...  That is an imediate tow.  No waiting at all.  Other kinds of tows (wrong space  or something like that does have some time limits on it ...

Sorry  but can not answer specific points in here with out knowing more.   Now I do know that Newport Beach has some  towing laws regarding what can be done or not....  But the basic California law on tow aways is as follows  

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22953.   (a) Every owner or person in lawful possession of any private property which is held open to the public, or a discernible portion thereof, for parking of vehicles at no fee, shall not tow or remove, or cause the towing or removal, of any vehicle within one hour of the vehicle being parked.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a vehicle may be removed immediately after being illegally parked within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, in a fire lane, or in a parking space or stall legally designated for disabled persons.

(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to property designated for parking at an apartment complex, or to property designated for parking at a hotel or motel where the parking stalls or spaces are clearly marked for a specific room.

Added Ch. 1335, Stats. 1985. Effective January 1, 1986.

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I hope this helps  a bit