City’s ‘courtesy tows’ scrapped to save taxpayer dollars

The city no longer pays to tow vehicles parked in violation of a key snow-related ban.

An annual update on snow clearing notes that “courtesy tows” did not take place during the last two residential parking bans that helped clear the way for plowing, which occurred in January and December of 2024.

The change follows concerns about how much the tows cost taxpayers.

“Although courtesy towing has been the practice, it is not a requirement by city bylaw or policy and has not shown significant… efficiencies. Courtesy towing during residential parking bans is currently not planned to resume,” the report notes.

A chart shows there were 206 service requests to deal with vehicles that impeded snow-clearing during an operation in January 2022, which fell to 30 and 6 for snow clearing events that took place in January 2024 and December 2024, respectively.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, has long called for an end to the courtesy tows, noting the practice cost the city $930,000 in 2021 alone.

“It’s just a huge cost. Why should taxpayers who actually abide by the rules be paying (that) … for people that aren’t adhering to the rules?” said Lukes (Waverley West).

The councillor said crews may now just plow around a parked vehicle instead of towing.

She supports increasing the fine for those who violate a snow-clearing parking ban to further deter the offence, which she expects will be discussed by the public works committee.

“I’d like to (do that)… it seems to motivate people. So, we’ll see what the committee says, and we’ll see how it unfolds,” she said.

The current fine for violating a winter residential parking ban is $200, or $150 if paid early.

A city spokeswoman said vehicles that obstruct snow clearing can still be towed at the owner’s expense. The city is also pursuing public education efforts to spell out the rules, she said.

“We are… exploring enhanced communication strategies, such as targeted postcards and text alerts, to further improve compliance,” wrote Julie Dooley, in an email.

Meanwhile, for the last two winters, the city achieved its goal to plow all residential sidewalks within 36 hours after clearing started.

“That was a big goal. We bought more equipment and we put the staff on it,” said Lukes.

She said a real-time snow clearing map that uses automatic vehicle location tracking for sidewalk and pathway snow clearing will be launched to further enhance service next winter.

“That will give people the opportunity to see exactly when the sidewalk or pathway is plowed… You will be able to tell, within a five-minute window, if your route is cleared or not… (and) have that opportunity to plan your schedule when it’s cleared,” said Lukes.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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