Wendy Novakovski, supervisor and court co-ordinator with Parking Services, said the university, like the city, is using provisions within the new provincial Summary Offense Procedures Act to tow vehicles in order to recoup parking fines. “We have the right to do it and we will be using that legislation to actively collect outstanding fines,” she said.

In one recent case, a vehicle was towed from campus, and impounded because the owner had $980 in outstanding fines and fees. All fines and towing charges must be paid in full before any towed vehicle will be released, Novakovski said, adding the car mention in her example remains impounded.

“The first question people always ask us when they find out their car’s been towed is, ‘can you do this?’ The answer is yes.”

Novakovski said parking enforcement personnel have been provided with license plate numbers of vehicles that have accumulated a large number of parking violations “so we’ll be more actively looking for them.”

More information about towing can be found on the parking services website.