ROCKFORD TOWING A ruined night out in Downtown Rockford! CAUSE: Rockford Towing Vultures!!! Rockford Illinois

This won't help you but as a rental property owner I have a different perspective.

A lot of money goes into a parking lot. The property has to be purchased, permits pulled, paved, lined, and POSTED (NOTICES put up for those who were never taught not to used someone else's property without permission of the owner.) Then there is the annual cost of maintenance, insurance, and property taxes that need to be paid. None of this is free or cheap. FREE municipal parking is normally CLEARLY MARKED as such, just as PAY AS YOU PARK municipal parking is marked.

When an unathorized person uses any of the parking spots, they are, in fact, stealing. They are stealing from my tenants who indirectly PAY for the parking spots they are assigned and expect them to be empty when they are not using them. They are stealing from me because I am not being compensated for the use of my parking area. It matters not whether they park for 10 minutes or 10 hours, they are stealing the use of someone else's property. When I am made aware of an unauthorized use of a parking space, I don't hesitate to call for it's removal-it get's towed within 10 minutes of my call and the towing and storage fees are at the vehicle owner's expense.

As to the restaraunt you patronized. They're not responsible as you noted in your report BUT it seems to me that as a courtesy to their patrons, they could put a note on the entrance you used (back door) to REMIND THEIR CUSTOMERS NOT TO PARK in the parking lot you used. If there is free parking for their patrons available somewhere, it would be good business to include the free parking location on the door sign. I think it's safe to assume that you're not the first person to have this unfortunate situation.

The only other advice I might give you is to go downtown and check into your municipal and state statutes regarding parking on private property and towing. Here, the laws are very specific as to the SIGNAGE that must be posted, right down to the size of the various lettering for "visability" (and stiputations about obstructions.) IF the signage is non-compliant or if the tow company doesn't have the proper licenses, insurance and permits, you might be able to recover in small claims court.