Towing Issues: towing laws in CA if driver is present, dmv ca, california dmv

Question
Just recently our condo complex has started towing cars.
If the vehicle is parked in front of your garage it will be towed. Can the tow truck guy still tow you car if you are present or if you are sitting in the car with the ignition running before he actually hooks up your car. I thought there was a new law that stated if your vehicle is illegally parked but the driver is present that you still have an opportunity to move the vehicle and the car can't be towed. Is this true? Where can I find info related to this type of new laws?

Answer
I believe that under the new laws they can charge a fee if they are there to tow but not hooked up, and can charge a show up or drop fee for that. The law was changed recently (1-1-2007) but they did leave a somewhat loop hole there where the fee collection is in question. I have heard (not seen yet) that they are trying to close that loophole up, but like anything in any law or regulation there are people who interpret it differently than others, or there are just people who do not care and will do what they want to till they get caught.  Its hard to say which one is happening there.

A person in the vehicle and it running might be a real stretch to tow, but if you are not physically at the vehicle or within arms reach it might go..  Upstairs on 3rd floor balcony yelling do not tow I will be down might be a legal tow reason till you were physically at the vehicle.

If  you want to really have lots of fun and try to read a lot of laws on this kind of issue you can go to the website listed below and check out towing, parking issues which is from the California DMV.  That will have the specific laws in question and might have some answers for you.  You will just have to hunt a bit for information. Also remember that different cities also have created more specific rules for use in their jurisdictions.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc.htm