Vehicle Code section 22658 governs towing vehicles from private property, requiring specific signage at property entrances (size, wording, and visibility requirements), notice to local law enforcement of the tow, and, in many cases, the presence or authorization of the property owner or their agent before a tow can occur. It aims to prevent predatory towing while still allowing property owners to manage unauthorized parking.
Apartment communities and commercial lots in Sacramento commonly authorize security patrol to identify unauthorized vehicles — expired permits, blocked fire lanes, abandoned vehicles — and coordinate with a licensed towing company under this statute's procedural framework. Signage compliance is frequently the weak link that invalidates an otherwise justified tow.
Security officers typically do not tow vehicles themselves; their role is to identify violations consistent with posted rules, document them (photos, timestamps, license plates), and contact an authorized towing vendor per client policy, ensuring required notifications to police occur. Officers should never authorize a tow that conflicts with current signage or occupancy status without proper verification.
Towing procedure requirements are detailed and locally supplemented by municipal code; verify current statutory text and any Sacramento-specific towing ordinance requirements before finalizing a parking enforcement policy.
Related entries
Official sources
- [1]Cal. Vehicle Code § 22658California Legislative Information
Links point to the publishing agency or the California Legislative Information text. Government pages are reorganized periodically — if a link moves, search the code section or agency name at the official site.
General industry and regulatory usage — not legal advice, and not an endorsement by BSIS, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or any law-enforcement agency. Statutes, regulations, and local ordinances change; verify current text at the official government source or with your attorney.