City of Prince Albert changes towing and impound system

“I do think it will be an asset to the city and I look forward to the relationship that Lakeland Towing is putting forward,” said Coun. Darren Solomon.

Changing the system has several benefits for the city. Lakeland will pay the city $250,000 annually and handle the administrative work.

Right now, revenue from towing and impound services can fluctuate significantly, ranging from $120,000 annually to $320,000.

“They will tow on behalf of the police and the city and folks may still get towed for tickets, accumulation of tickets, and they would have to pay for their tickets and then retrieve their vehicle from the impound,” said Anna Dinsdale, Community Safety and Well-Being manager.

If a vehicle is towed in different circumstances, such as from private property, the tow company and impound lot will be whichever company the owner chooses to call.

Contracting out also frees up time for city bylaw officers to do other work.

Another factor was the city’s loss of SGI garage keeper status in 2024, while the existing contract with Auto Rescue expires Dec. 31, 2026.

Lakeland Towing will still do work for SGI, but it will be a bilateral relationship that does not include the city.

Another change is that vehicles towed during winter snow removal will no longer be taken to the impound lot.

The city will instead use an “around-the-corner” model, meaning the tow truck will find a suitable cleared space nearby and the owner can retrieve their car from wherever it was parked.

Owners will get a preset bill from the city to recoup the cost of moving the vehicle, but they will not have to pay for as long a tow or face impound charges on top of it.

The contract runs for five years.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

City of Prince Albert changes towing and impound system

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