Whereas the RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure have authority for enforcing parking regulations outside of municipal boundaries, including the removal of abandoned or unlicensed vehicles that may be illegally parked on rural roads, which is time consuming, costly, and takes away resources from other important community priorities; And whereas regional districts have no authority for parking enforcement or removal of abandoned vehicles from rural roads but, as the representative local government with a direct connection to the community, must address resident concerns about abandoned vehicles that may be illegally parked or impacting the safe movement of pedestrians, traffic, or emergency vehicles in areas such as accesses to docks, boat launches, roads near waterfront parks, or areas where parking is limited: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to provide additional funding resources to support rural RCMP detachments or the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in responding to time consuming and costly removal and disposal of abandoned vehicles from rural roads, and to ensure that community safety concerns are prioritized and adequately attended to.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure The Ministry is focused on public safety and making sure that all provincial highways and roads are safe for people to travel on. If an abandoned vehicle is in a lane, blocking traffic or in the way of snow removal equipment, it is a hazard and it will be towed immediately. In order for the RCMP to ticket vehicle owners for illegal parking, there must be a sign restricting parking in the area. The ministry works with local governments and the RCMP in determining locations for No Parking signs. Currently the BC Motor Vehicle Act MVA provides municipalities with the authority to enforce parking regulations within their boundaries. The same authority is not provided to regional districts. Research is required to understand the basis for the difference and determine whether there were any specific reasons for excluding the regional districts when the original legislation was enacted. Ministry staff are reviewing the intent of the original legislation as well as identifying the types of operational and safety impacts. Once the information is gathered, the ministry will be in a position to give this matter further consideration.