By paNOW Staff

City opens new impound lot

Jan 11, 2018 | 4:00 PM

You don’t want to get your vehicle towed in Prince Albert if you fall foul of the city’s traffic bylaws.

A new municipally-run impound lot is now operational and it costs offenders plenty.

“According to our City Traffic Bylaw we charge a $50 impound fee plus $15 per day storage,” Trina Wareham, the city’s parking services coordinator said. “Towing costs are what the company charges us and they’re $120.”

The city ended its previous contracted out service and has now teamed up with Auto Rescue for the towing. The impound lot is located at 1119 North Industrial Drive, next to the PA SPCA.

While it’s not the place local motorists would want their vehicle to end up, Wareham said the site is safe and secure with good lighting and security.

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“Auto Rescue Towing is located right in that lot so there’s almost always people there anyway, but we do have a security system with cameras and everything there,” she said.

The city has made it clear that the fees connected with the towing, impound and storage are for city bylaw infractions and any impoundment for SGI or Highways issues would fall under a different fee structure depending on circumstances.

According to the city’s bylaws, when a vehicle is towed the city will make contact with the owners personally or by registered mail to notify them of the vehicle seizure.

If owners think their vehicle may have been towed away they should contact city hall between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m to find out how to reclaim it and secure a release form.

The opening of the new impound lot is a new venture for the city aimed at creating additional revenues.

The city impounds nearly 1,200 vehicles per year through bylaw and PA Police enforcement, with half coming in under the SGI impound program. Using these numbers, administration estimated they could generate anywhere between $375,000 to $500,000 per year from their own facility.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow