This is an age old concern of mine that I have never gotten a good answer for. This question centers around "Contract", not junk, stolen, or abandoned vehicles. Also, I am not disputing the Statutory right to tow.
Hypothetically, I purchase a 2009 vehicle. It is properly licensed, registered, and tagged. I park this vehicle in an apartment complex. The apartment complex takes exception to this and has the vehicle towed.
Here is my concern. The apartment complex has a contract with a towing company. There are only two parties to the contract, the apartment complex and the towing company. In my residence I have a contract with a trash company to come twice a week and remove trash from my property and I pay a fee for that service. The above mentioned 2009 vehicle is for all practical purposes unwanted trash on the apartment complexes property. The apartment complex has that unwanted trash (2009 vehicle) removed by the towing company whom they have contracted with for that service. It would seem that the apartment complex would pay the fee for trash removal as I pay a fee for trash removal.
I am not a party to the contract between the apartment complex and the towing company. The fee for this service should be payed by the party whom contracted that service. For me this would be grand theft auto as my 2009 vehicle was just stolen. I did not contact the towing company, speak with the towing company, negotiate with the towing company, authorize the towing company, nor enter a binding contract with the towing company to move my vehicle from point A to point B. There was no meeting of the minds nor an offer and acceptance between the towing company and I. I do not understand how I can civilly be compelled to pay ransom for a vehicle kidnaping when a binding contract between the towing company and I does not exist.
I can understand, agree, and appreciate if the apartment complex wants to civilly sue for trespass in order to recoup the towing fee as the trash that was removed from the property would have been my trash.

