I completely agree that tow companies are shady and do illegal things. I have been towed twice in my life and both times I was swindled out of extra cash. One time because they "only took American Express" So I had to use their ATM which charged an insane fee and then they " didn't have change" So my option was to walk to a gas station like half a mile away or just give them an extra $15 bucks. I opted for the latter. The second time they just didn't take credit cards at all and they also "didn't have change" to give me.

But your case is based on two posters who got towed after they illegally parked. That is not a "recent uptick." That is two people who got towed after they illegally parked. I think to expose an illegal towing operation we have to start with cars that weren't supposed to be towed in the first place.