State legislators in Virginia held a hearing in June on whether a new towing law was needed. Jay O'Brien, the state senator leading the effort, said one complaint was of tow trucks patrolling apartment parking lots just after midnight on the first of the month, removing cars legally parked but whose registration had expired minutes before.

I don't understand this. Is this pervasive? It seems to be. When did tow truck operators gain this kind of autonomy? Why is it any of their business if a car is illegally parked--isn't that up to the property owner or the police? Does owning a tow truck give you a special dispensation? Could I buy a tow truck and go around towing cars that I see that don't have the proper permits?

It was quiet when Mr. Gavaldon patrolled several mobile home parks in Orange County on Friday afternoon, towing only one car, which was parked in a guest space without a guest parking permit.

That just seems crazy to me. I didn't realize that tow trucks had been given the right to uphold laws as they interpret them.

Tow Trucks Prowl, and Authorities Crack Down - New York Times

Link from Boing Boing