If you read the general internet it's all mobbed up guys stealing cars from law-abiding single mothers for no reason at all but then again if I believed the general public about parking violation enforcement here in germany I'd come to the conclusion they're the new jews.
So how bad is that whole privatized towing / enforcement thing, really? Is there an actual problem beyond "it's a private company" or is it mostly carbrain tears?
I don't mean this in an antagonizing way but the issue at it's core described here seems to be parking enforcement, aye? You wouldn't think of it any better if it was done by some department for no profit or whatever?
If it was done for no profit, but people's cars were still getting towed to out of the way places, it would still be a problem. Also if there was no profit motive than I don't think the predatory tow industry would exist.