Towing Issues: storage fees, storage fees, towing company

Question
what are the laws concerning storage fees and amounts? in my case we had the broken down car towed less then a mile but driver wouldn't accept my check(they do accept checks stated in there advertisement)so he took the car to their yard, without a ride I was unable to get there to pay for and then when I was offered a car to borrow I was arrested due to the car being previously stolen. I was incarcerated for 14 days and then didnt have the money since I had to pay bail. to sum it all up its been a month since the car was towed and the driver is saying that I owe almost $2000 and if Its not paid by the end of the day they own my car, is this legal? and can I be charged for storage fees while i was incarcerated? please I need your help asap or who I should talk to this about

Answer
Well, not knowing what state or city you live in I can't help much on the state's statue or county/city laws. The towing company can charge storage on a vehicle beyond your control. The vehicle is in their care and custody. There are ways a towing company can release a vehicle to a non owner as long as it was not a police hold. Since this doesn't seem the case I will not go into much detail and beside that time has already passed. As for the towing company owning your car, the towing company has their procedures that must be followed. Depending on the state, vehicle/owner record search, notification/certified letters and auction process is the usual way of disposing of a unclaimed vehicle. The money received from auction will go towards the tow bill. Sometimes the vehicle sells for the tow bill and other times there is still a negative balance. If the vehicle doesn't sell for or near the tow bill you may be held responsible for the difference. On the flip side if your vehicle sells way more than the tow bill you are owed the surplus. Trust me, that doesn't happen often! Most professional towing company's will not jeopardize their business over a impounded/unclaimed vehicle and will obey the laws as stated.  Unfortunately if you don't have the money the vehicle will go to auction. You could attend the auction since most are public but you will be bidding against other people as well.