An expensive lesson: Port Moody family stung by the steep price of having car towed

Kevin Froese at the Port Moody TransLink station. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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Kevin Froese is not an activist. He’s just a father. But a tow truck, a steep bill, and a distressed daughter was a call to action.

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His daughter’s car was towed from TransLink’s Port Moody Park and Ride on Aug. 17, a lot managed by Impark.

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“She called her mom, upset,” said Froese. His 23-year-old daughter had a couple of unpaid parking infractions.

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“The tow was justified, and we don’t dispute that,” said Froese.

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Her car was being held at the Benjamin Towing impound lot in Port Coquitlam. But when they got there, the office was closed. “No lights, and the signage says they close at 5 p.m.,” said Froese.

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They returned the next morning at 9 a.m. “I tell her it’s going to be bad. I’m thinking $200 or so, plus the cost of the tickets.”

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The bill was $440.95, not including parking infractions.

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The breakdown of charges included a $165 towing fee, $20 mileage, $49.95 fuel surcharge, $65 administration fee, and $120 for two days of storage.

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“The car had only been there for 17 hours,” said Froese. Once the clock ticks past midnight, the towing company charges for another day.

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His daughter paid the bill.

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Kevin Froese at Port Moody Station Park n Ride in Port Moody Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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Froese couldn’t help but wonder: Why, if the car was picked up in Port Moody, was it towed to Port Coquitlam? Why couldn’t they pick it up the same day? And why was the bill so high, when it was towed from a property associated with TransLink, a public agency funded, at least in part, by taxpayers?

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Port Coquitlam bylaws stipulate fees charged for a non-consensual tow must align with ICBC’s prescribed rates, which are lower than what the towing company charges.

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“As a taxpayer, I think that private companies can do whatever they want to. But TransLink is a public body, funded by my tax dollars. There should be some consistency and following of ICBC’s prescribed rates,” said Froese. “And you should have access to pick up your car within a reasonable time frame. The car was towed at 4:08 p.m. The lot closed at 5 p.m.”

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This was not a claim-related incident. But following ICBC’s prescribed flat tow rate, a regular-sized vehicle is $82.18, mileage is $2.48 per kilometre, fuel surcharge is “variable,” and storage starts at $22.91 per day, according to information on ICBC’s website. There are no ICBC rates listed for impound after a tow, except when related to driving offences.

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However, Port Coquitlam bylaws suggesting rates follow ICBC’s guidelines don’t apply to cars towed from Port Moody.

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“Port Coquitlam’s business bylaw regulates towing practices and charges for vehicles towed within the city. It does not give us authority over towing that originates in another jurisdiction, such as the Port Moody Park and Ride lot in this case,” the city said. “So, while the vehicle ended up at a Port Coquitlam tow lot, the tow itself falls outside our regulatory reach.”