Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

The lot is allowed to charge you this fee. You are entitled to reimbursement from your brother, but not from the police. I don't know whether your brother can or will pay you back given his present circumstances, but if he doesn't then you will have to absorb the cost.

The same issue arises when cars are towed when legally parked, by error or by malice of some adjacent property owner. The towing company provided the service and they are entitled to their fees for towing and storage. Any recourse is from the wrongdoer. In your case, the police are not wrongdoers, so you have no recourse from them. They are allowed to collect evidence of crime. Mr. Hoffman is correct. Your only recourse is from your brother. Good luck.

The police pay it?? Nice try. They don't own it, they aren't responsible for it, and they are doing their job of investigating a crime. That's the risk you run in loaning a car to someone who might use it in a way, criminal conduct, that gets it towed.