City hall is set to come down on pesky parkers with an updated towing policy.
During tonight's meeting, city council will be brought up to speed on a new procedure that "will result in more consistent vehicle impoundment enforcement practices for illegally parked vehicles on the city's streets and off-street parking facilities," said a report from public safety and civic facilities director Rob Whitwham.
Under the new policy, a vehicle "shall be towed" without any attempt to contact the owner if it's in the way of snow clearing operations, parked unsafely, appears to be uninsured or abandoned, parked too closely to a fire hydrant or bus zone or if it's attached to even one unpaid parking ticket.
That last provision is expected to help improve compliance with parking rules as well as encourage voluntary payment of parking tickets, said the report.
Vehicles will be towed if they are blocking access to a private driveway or road and if they are parked on unsigned highways for more than 24 hours "after a reasonable attempt" to contact the owner has been made. An enforcement officer has the discretion to tow for other violations and the bylaw services manager or senior bylaw enforcement officer can also waive the requirement to tow any vehicle.
Each impounded vehicle will be subject to a $50 administrative tow cost to be collected by the towing company and remitted to the city.
Private parking lot operators could also have more enforcement teeth with a new city bylaw up for first two readings tonight.
A new piece of legislation would provide the authority for private parking facility owners to remove vehicles as well as protect clients by setting maximum charges for removal as well as laying out a standard for signage requirements.
Staff are recommending the tow and impound fees be set to ICBC rates.
The bylaw will have to go to a public hearing at a future council meeting before it can be adopted.
