Towing Issues: Towing issue, tow truck company, problem signs

Question
On Saturday night, I parked in a paid parking area.  I paid my $5.00, and parked where I was told to park.  A ticket was placed, on the inside, in my front window.  I then met up with friends, and had some drinks.  I took a cab home.  The next morning I woke up around 10:30a.m., and left my house around 12:00p.m., walking to the parking lot, which was about 10 blocks from my house, to pick up my truck.  I get there and it's not in the lot.  I called the towing company and they confirmed that they had it.  
The parking lot was used on sundays for a church, and was told the church called in to the towing company to have it removed.  I have taken pictures of the lot, and, although they do have signs saying violators will be towed at owners expence, they do not have a time listed, as to, when vehicles need to be out of the lot, if parking was paid for.
So I go to the towing company and pay the $160.00 for the tow.  I asked who and when did the church call to have my truck towed.  I was told they could not release that information, but would tell me what time it was towed.  They towed my truck at 7:30a.m., which would seem the call would come in between 6:30a.m. and 7:00a.m.  As I tell my story to the tow truck company, they said that they get 5 to 10 complaints about the same lot every week.  
I have 4 questions
1) Can you be considered a violator if you paid for parking?
2)  Do I have grounds to file a small claims against the church?
3)  Is this grounds for a class action?  being that this happens to paying people every week and nothing is being done about posting a time to be out.
4)  How can I look into the laws pertaining to this for myself?

Answer
well in answering your questions first I have to say a few things...

First how long do you think the paid parking is for... 1 Hour, 5 hours, overnight?  And then define overnight..

Shared parking lots like this are always a problem and will be a problem.
Signs for this kind of use are always a problem also.  

Now I agree that there should be some signs there but again it goes back to how long was the parking authorized...

Now as to the small claims issue, well you always have that option to do that, but remember that there are the parking lot people also. After all they are the ones who made the agreement. That is what you really need to find out about.


Class action suit, well I doubt it, but stranger things have happened.

Laws regarding this issue, well since you did not list the city or state so I can not point you in the right direction..


$ 160.00 for the fees, well that is not real bad for fees that I have heard of in other areas.

I hope this helps you a bit, I tried to provide information for you.