Towing Issues: illegal tow?, city of roses, tow trucks

Question
My appartment complex is requiring new parking passes. I had not turned in for my new pass yet and noticed no one else had theirs up anyways so i wasnt worried about it(it was the same day the new passes were requierd) at 2:30am a couple tow trucks came through the lot and i ran out there before they had lifted my car, I said that i would just move my car and they told me if i gave them $100 they wouldnt tow it, i ran to get a check, when i came back they had moved my car to the street and said that they would only take cash or plastic and called in to see how much it would be to release my car since it was now moved from the lot to the street and they said it would be $300 and then just drove off. This happened to several other residents as well. I was wondering if it was legal to still tow a car even if you get to them before they tow it, also is it legal for them to ask for $100 in order to not tow your car. i feel like ive been swindelled and dont know what to do. im in portland oregon if that makes a difference.

Answer
aaahhh Portland Oregon, City of Roses,  my hometown.  Love it and miss it alot...

Now as to the problem.  I wonder if the tow company had your vehicle in the air and hooked up properly inorder to drive off before you tried to claim it.  If it was not hooked to the truck then they are required to give the vehicle back.. If its hooked up and ready to go down the road in tow and you catch them you can pay a release at scene fee and get the car back.  Now they moved it to the street and then told you it would be more.  That is wrong.  As to the charges that is true, cash or plastic as lots of problems with other methods of payment.  

Now as you live in Portland, you have a towing board in the city of portland you can talk to .. If you are actually just outside the city (hope you are not in Gresham thats a whole differant problem) then you might be able to solve the issues.  It does sound however that you did not follow the rules and also several other people did not by properly displaying the correct parking tags.. That is what happens when tags or permits change.  Its a great window for the tow company to make $$$ with cars that fall though the crack.  
Check with the city and see what they say.  If anything else they might point you in the right direction to solve the problem.. And I am sure you let the apartment management know how the towing company acted also... After all it reflects on the apartment also.