Towing Issues: Street work & Notifications, dmv web, front doors

Question
Hello Richard,

I live in California, and I could not find an answer to my question on the dmv web site.

I live in an area that requires permit parking, and I have a permit. A few months back I was cited for having an an abandoned vehicle when I didn't use my car for 72 days, so I'm always conscious now about using or moving my car once every three days.

I last used my car on the 25th, so was scheduled to use/move it again on the 28th. On the 28th, however, there was road construction and I found that my car had been towed. There was no warning sign posted at the time I parked my car, and a neighbor claims that they only saw the sign come up 24 hours before the street work began. I called the police department, and they claimed that the signs were scheduled to be put up at some point on the 25th, but that still gives less than 72 hours to see the sign and move the car. Furthermore, the road work was done across the street from my house, in font of a police station parking lot, and only on that side of the street were warnings put up (in other words, it was extremely unlikely that people would see the signs, since the houses are on the other side of the street, and the signs were posted where nobody ever walks). Additionally, there were no noticed put in mailboxes or on front doors or even on the cars, to my knowledge. Lastly, two other cars were towed with mine, and the construction was done over four parking spots - seems I wasn't the only one who missed the warnings. I hope that's not too much background info!

My question then is, if I am allowed to park for 72 hours at a time, then can they give less than 72 hours notice that I must move my car? Additionally, are they allowed to give such cryptic notification? (The signs were low to the ground, not even greater than the height of the cars; they were not even visible from our houses.)

Thank you very much, I appreciate your response and the time you put into this!

Drew

Answer
Construction and street maintenance always creates issues with parking and yes you are correct that the California DMV web site does not show this issue in its pages (at least that I have found yet, but I keep looking)

Now as to the 72 hours, yes that is what they use to determine "abandoned vehicles" and as such that does apply  to general parking issue, but construction or emergency work on the streets also fall into special categories...

If the water main breaks and your car is in the way, even though it has been parked for 1 day, should they wait for the 72 hours to be up before they repair the leak.. No they tow what is in the way and do the repairs... That is the kind of things that happen... Now as to the "signs" which were placed in places which you would not see them or walk in. I really can not say much about that, as it kind of falls under drivers responsibility  for parking and being aware of any signs with might be there. Yes it would be great to have them do signs, notices on cars (which are exposed to the weather and can be ruined or blown away), notices on the doors and such, but how far should they go in notifying every one.  Just the doors on the affected street, what about the first or second house around the corner. Do they or can they park on the affected street?   See the point here.

And how where the signs posted.. Were they on the regular poles which other signs were on, or where they on "construction sawhorses"   Remember there is only so much room on a pole or if no poles then there are only so tall of sawhorses...