Car Towed in Vernon, BC? Where to Look First

Car gone in Vernon? First, figure out who ordered the tow. If it was moved off a city street, Vernon's Traffic Bylaw says you can call City Hall at 250-545-1361 to ask where it went. If police took it, call the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at 250-545-7171. A tow from a private lot is a different matter. Sentinel Towing does not do impounds.

Who could have towed your car in Vernon?

There is no single tow lot for every car in town. The place your car went depends on who asked for the tow. Consumer Protection BC lists the usual ones. It can be a city, a private property owner, a strata, a parking operator, police, or the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.

In Vernon, that usually sorts into three groups:

• The City. A bylaw officer or the City's engineer had it moved off a street. Start with City Hall.
• Police. The RCMP moved it after a crash, a stop or a roadside check. Start with the detachment.
• A private lot. You parked at a plaza, a condo, a hotel or a shop. Start with the sign at the lot entrance.

Not sure which one? Ask the people around you. A store clerk or a building manager often knows who called the truck. Consumer Protection BC also says the tow company may be able to tell you who authorized the tow.

What does Vernon's bylaw say about City tows?

The rules sit in the City of Vernon Traffic Bylaw #5600. Section 2.5 lets a police officer, a bylaw officer or the City engineer move a vehicle. They can also take it into custody and have it stored. That can happen when a car is:

• Parked against the Motor Vehicle Act, a sign, or the bylaw.
• Blocking an emergency vehicle or its equipment.
• Blocking the normal flow of traffic.
• In the way of road work or snow removal.
• Looking abandoned on a street.
• Missing a current plate or decal.

The bylaw gives you a clear next step. Section 2.8 says the owner may contact City Hall to confirm where the car can be picked up. City Hall is at 3400 30 Street. The phone is 250-545-1361.

What if you don't call right away?

Section 2.6 covers this. If 48 hours pass and no one claims the car, the City mails a notice. It goes to the address on file for your plate with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. The notice says where the car is and where to pay. If you moved and never updated your address, that letter goes to the old one. So don't wait for the mail.

Which Vernon parking rules lead to a tow?

A tow often starts with a parking rule you didn't know about. Section 4.1 of the bylaw lists dozens. These are the ones that catch people most:

• The 48-hour rule. You can't leave a car on a street for more than 48 hours in a row. A car parked outside a friend's house in East Hill for a long weekend can cross that line.
• Fire hydrants. Stay at least 5 meters away on either side.
• Lanes. Don't park in front of a lane entrance, or within 3 meters of it.
• Bus stops. Keep 20 meters back on the approach and 10 meters past the stop.
• Corners. Stay 6 meters back from an intersection.
• Loading zones. Stay only as long as it takes to load or unload.
• Meters. Don't park at a meter that shows no time left.

Downtown has a mix of timed, metered and free street spots. Meters take the HotSpot app. Once you've used the full time at a timed spot, section 4.2 says you have to wait 2 hours before you park again on the same block. Moving one stall over doesn't count.

Why does winter matter in Vernon?

Snow brings its own rule. Under section 4.3, no vehicle can sit on a street while a Snow Removal Program is in effect there. Section 4.4 says people living next to that street must move their cars no later than 12 hours after being told. If you're parked on a hillside street in the Foothills or near Okanagan Landing after a big snowfall, watch for City notices. A car left in the plow's way is one of the reasons the bylaw allows a tow.

What if police had your car towed?

Maybe your car quit on Hospital Hill on Highway 97 after a crash. Or it sat on the shoulder of Highway 6 while you got a ride home. The bylaw lets police move any vehicle that gets in the way of their response to an incident.

Call the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at 250-545-7171. The detachment is at 3402 30th Street. General services run Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The City's RCMP page says a regional call center takes non-emergency reports after hours. The same detachment also covers Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby and Falkland. If your car was taken in one of those places, it's still the same number.

If anyone is hurt, or a car is stuck in a live lane, call 911 first.

What about a provincial impound?

Some impounds have nothing to do with parking. RoadSafetyBC says police must impound a car when the driver is caught doing certain things. These include driving while prohibited, street racing, stunt driving, or going more than 40 km/h over the limit. Driving without a valid license or while affected by alcohol or drugs is on the list too.

The driver gets a Notice of Impoundment. If you own the car but weren't driving, the province mails you a copy. The day of the tow doesn't count toward the impound. So a 7-day impound usually means 9 days of storage charges.

What if you parked on a private lot?

Say you parked at a shopping plaza, then walked over to Polson Park. You came back and your car was gone. That lot is private. Vernon's Traffic Bylaw covers streets and City places. It doesn't make City Hall the place to call about a private lot.

• Take a photo of the sign at the entrance. It often shows who tows and how to reach them.
• Ask the business, the strata or the building manager who called the tow.
• Ask the tow company for a list of every charge. Keep every receipt.

Consumer Protection BC says it does not regulate towing companies. If you can't settle a dispute with the tow company, it points you to the Civil Resolution Tribunal.

What do you bring to get your car back?

Call before you go. Ask where the car is, when you can pick it up and what you need. For a provincial impound, RoadSafetyBC says the registered owner must:

1. Go to the lot in person.
2. Bring valid government photo ID.
3. Pay all towing and storage fees.
4. Have a licensed driver along if you don't hold a valid license.

Can't go yourself? RoadSafetyBC has an Owner's Authorization Form, MV2712. It can take up to 3 business days, so send it early.

For a City tow, section 2.7 says the owner pays the actual cost of moving and storing the car. City fees from the Fees and Charges Bylaw get added on top. For a provincial impound, the registered owner pays, no matter who was driving. You can ask for a review only if the impound is longer than 7 days. You must apply within 15 days.

What happens if you leave it there?

Don't. Section 2.9 lets the City dispose of a car it holds at any time in some cases. One case is when the owner can't be found after a fair try. Another is when the car has no clear market value. An old car with an expired plate fits that second case. Every extra day also adds storage charges.

What if the car won't start once it's released?

A car that sat in a lot through a cold Vernon week may have a dead battery by pickup day. If the lot lets a roadside truck in, a jump start may be all you need. If the car can't be driven, a car tow can take it home or to your shop.

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you your price and lock it before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until your driver gets there. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. For roads from Hospital Hill to Silver Star Road, see our Vernon towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Vernon Impound Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: City of Vernon: Traffic Bylaw #5600, City of Vernon: parking, City of Vernon: RCMP, Vernon North Okanagan RCMP: contact, RoadSafetyBC: Vehicle Impoundment Program, Consumer Protection BC: towing.