Towing Issues: Towing charges, tow truck operator, storage charges

Question
HI,
I sold a car to a friend of mind about november of last year. She was in a tough spot so I let her just take the car. Of course due to this about 10 monthes later the car gets towed and I recieve a notice (only from the police department not the towing company) that the car was impounded. I immediatly went over to her house at which time she wholeheartly agreed that it was not my bill to pay and it should be transfered into her name. We went to the DMV and did a release of liability. We went to the tow company where we were told that the storage to date (about 10 days after) was up to $515 ($45 a day) Also we were told that unless the release of liability was stamped by the DMV before the car entered their yard that I was liable for the tow even though she was standing right there accepting responsibility. He said "We'll keep the car for about 50 days at $45 a day and then conduct a lein sale and send you to collections for the balance and there is nothing you can do about it". Can they legally keep it for 50 days and charge me like that? Isn't there something she can sign to accept responsibilty?
This tow truck operator is unscrupulus making it impossible for anyone to get their car out of impound and tacking on outrageous storage charges for it sitting on his dirt lot. PLEASE HELP!

Answer
Well as much as I hate to say, but this sounds like the towing company if following the letter of the law and you have missed part of it. Unfortunatly by not doing the release of liability when you sold the vehicle this falls into a crack in the law.  You are responsible for all towing and storage fees along with any parking fines up to the point the release was signed.

Best answer there would be either see if you can deal with the towing company ( not sure what the reason for tow was or condition of the vehicle is) and see if they will take the title to the vehicle (if its not worth getting back) or for her to pay the fees to you, so you can get it out. Then I would make sure that its all legal again so this does not happen.

Now the storage fee issue. They can keep the vehicle untill they get the legal papers which will allow them to dispose of the vehicle. It takes time to do the mailings and give time to get the papers from the police and state.
50 days is about average in most cases. Side note here, a growing list of states have laws now where your drivers licence and or other vehicle registrations are not renewed if you have outstanding fees owed to towing companies for removal of vehicles and the said disposal of them .

Selling the vehicle and sending the bill for the differance is one of the practices which happens all the time.

As to the $ 45.00 a day for storage in the dirt lot, well it does not matter if its dirt, gravel, paved, or inside a building. Property costs to buy and taxes and insurance fees are required to have such a storage yard.  

Unfortunatly, I have to say that best answer is to get the vehicle out as soon as possible so that the ammount is low as possible.

One question I got is the freind should of known that the vehicle was towed before you got the letter. What happened there as that is important also.