What I don't get is, if it had a temp registration it should be good to go. Must be some finer point because the timing seems just wrong.
When I got my used one the 10-day temp registration was good past that because as long as you had an appointment at DMV you could keep driving on that. Because of 'demic and all.
I think this was a private towing company patrolling a private lot. Not the city.