Towing Issues: illegal tow?, traffic law enforcement agency, traffic law enforcement

Question
    I parked my car in the alley where i live in Long Beach, Ca. to pack for thanksgiving, the alley had signs posted "firelane" and had LB police number along with the tow company and number. my cousin and uncle are tow truck drivers and said they towed my car illegally for numerous reasons
  1) no one signed off on the tow, no signature from the person authorizing the tow, no property manager signature and no police officer.
  2) they were patrolling the area, i parked my car at PM and the time observed was 6pm this means no one called in the tow they just drove by saw it then grabbed it
  3) they did not report the tow within 30 minutes of the tow i called LB police at 6:33pm and it was not in their records they found the record about five minutes after i dialed their number.
    did they illegally tow my car for any of these reasons? what actions can i take to get my money back? I went to A&A towing to ask for a refund but they did not want anything to do with me.

Answer
Well since I am in Alabama and answer these questions on a volunteer basis and you have an Uncle and Cousin who drive tow truck in California I know this will turn into an ugly discussion...

BUT your cousin and Uncle seemed to miss part of Vehicle Code 22658 when dealing with firelanes and towing vehicles from them...

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(ii) In those cases in which general authorization is granted to a towing company or its affiliate to undertake the removal or commence the removal of a vehicle that is unlawfully parked within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or in a fire lane, or that interferes with an entrance to, or exit from, private property, the towing company and the property owner, or owners shall notify by telephone or, if impractical, by the most expeditious means available, the local traffic law enforcement agency within one hour after authorizing the tow. An owner or person in lawful possession of private property, an association of a common interest development, causing the removal of a vehicle parked on that property, or the tow truck operator who removes the vehicle, shal agent, or person in lawful possession of the private property shall have a written agreement granting that general authorization.

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Also I do believe that the notifications are 30 minutes after getting to the yard not from the instant they tow the vehicle, traffic can delay the arrival at the yard... Plus remember that the tow company has to call the local police on the phone and if they are on hold they are racing against the clock also...

Best answer is to park where it is legal and if that means you have to walk a bit then so be it.. But if you really want to contest the tow, you can do so in Small Claims Court. But remember that a fire lane also carries a parking ticket which can be issued... Now lets say that the police were patrolling the area and found the vehicle in violation... They would issue a parking ticket (maybe 100 to 500 dollars ) and then call for the tow truck to remove the vehicle.  You would then be out the tow fee and the ticket fee so do you really win when parking in a fire lane.