Towing Issues: Towed from Mall Parking Lot, california vehicle code, stanford mall

Question
Hi Richard,

Had a question about a car that was left at the Stanford Mall Parking Lot in Palo Alto, CA which is owned by a Stanford student (the Mall is independent to the University, although their properties are adjacent and overlapping; both entities are private).  The car was left long-term over holiday break for about three weeks, as suggested by the Stanford PD--citing regular monitoring and patrolling by mall security.  When the student returned from break, the car had been towed and mall security said the car had been left too long and also a tail light had been knocked off, so they towed the car.  This might be a stretch, but is there anyway to get out of the $500+ expenses?  I know the onus is not on the tow company, as they only did what they were told to do and provided a service for mall security.  But is there any way to get mall security to authorize release of the vehicle for reduced or no charge because it was the PD who recommended parking the car there?  

-Jon

Answer
Well California vehicle code 22658 covers parking lots and removal of vehicles from them...


Now I have a problem with the idea of the Police suggesting that you "trespassed" upon private property (the mall) and park your vehicle there for the extended time (especially Christmas shopping season)

I am not sure why you did that, other than avoid paying for parking at the airport or bus, train station for the time you were gone... But which would of been cheaper?


I am not sure how you would do in small claims court on this, but I bet it would be a better chance of loosing there on this issue...

As to getting someone to pay for the fees, I doubt the mall will pay for it or try to get it reduced, and of course the Police department will say they did no such thing in advising you...

I am curious as to why it was not left on campus?  Does it cost to park there also? or what about where you live?


Sorry for not having a solid answer but as you said the tow company did what they were asked to do, bottom line it sounds to me like a legal tow under all the California laws I have seen and read.