An update to the old Vehicle Removal Bylaw means it’s going to cost registered owners a lot more should the District of Sechelt be forced to impound an abandoned car or truck from a road, street, lane, right-of-way or highway within its jurisdiction.
Updates to the bylaw were approved at a regular meeting of Sechelt council Dec. 4, which now means if an abandoned vehicle is towed, the last registered owner or person who has custody of it, will not only pay the towing charge, but also a $50 administration fee before the vehicle is released.
If the vehicle isn’t immediately picked up, $25 a day storage fee will be added on top of towing and administration.
As well, should the abandoned vehicle need to be demolished or otherwise disposed of, the last registered owner or person who has custody of it, will be on the hook for that cost as well.
James Nyhus, chief building official for the district, told council in a report that the original bylaw, created in 1995, set the fees at “unrealistically low dollar amounts.”
“The proposed amendment will allow staff to pass on the fees for towing and storage by a contractor hired by the district to the person who had custody of the vehicle, as well as storage on district property, when necessary,” Nyhus told council.
Nyhus said the Motor Vehicle Act permits the district to sell or salvage a vehicle that has been abandoned on a district highway after giving the registered owner three days ' notice. The amended bylaw extends the notice period to seven days, using print and social media platforms, during which staff will also attempt to notify the registered owner to tell them the district has taken the vehicle from a highway.
Besides roads and highways, the bylaw also covers road shoulders, boulevards, ditches and sidewalk areas — and whatever lands lie between the property lines of the highway.
An abandoned vehicle that obstructs or unlawfully occupies a portion of a highway or public place may be removed, detained and impounded by bylaw enforcement officers, the superintendent of public works or a member of the local detachment of the RCMP, in accordance with the bylaw as it applies to all highways and public places within the District of Sechelt.
Every person who violates a provision of this bylaw or who ignores instructions as they’re laid out, will be liable to a fine, plus any additional costs and fees incurred by the District of Sechelt as a result of the offence.
Nyhus noted the costs of towing and storage are difficult to recover in most instances, but having appropriate tools will help to offset the costs incurred by the district whenever possible.
Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
