Parked along the highway, abandoned vehicles can be eerie, mysterious, even menacing….
You can’t help but wonder…what happened to the occupants? What is the story behind the vehicle left behind?
Whenever the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure employees or contractors spot (or hear of) an unoccupied vehicle roadside, our first thought is safety. If the abandoned vehicle is in any part of a lane, or in the way of snow removal equipment, it’s a danger to traffic and will be towed immediately. (This is in the B.C. Transportation Act). So if your vehicle has broken down while you’re on the road, move it to the shoulder if you can do so safely, or call a tow truck, if you’re able.
A Path to Keeping Highways Clear
To keep highways and road shoulders unobstructed for traffic, the ministry has a procedure to deal with abandoned vehicles. The road surface, plus ditches and rights of way beyond the road surface, must all be kept clear, so our maintenance contractors can do tasks like brushing, spring cleaning and winter plowing. Here’s what happens…
If the unoccupied vehicle is not blocking traffic, police will post a notice on it, using (removable) spray paint, to advise that the vehicle will be towed within 72 hours (three days) if not removed. This lets everyone passing by, know that the situation is being handled – so there’s no need for concerned motorists to stop (and disrupt traffic).
Nobody likes abandoned vehicles, including self-help author Peter McWilliams, who said, “The road to positivity is strewn with the abandoned vehicles of the faint-hearted.”
For all abandoned vehicles, the RCMP obtain the vehicle identification number to find out who the last registered owner is, and if the vehicle was stolen or involved in a crime. If the vehicle was linked to a crime, the police handle everything from there.
Owner is Known
It the vehicle is not implicated in a crime, a double-registered letter is sent to the owner, by either the RCMP or the ministry. Owners are told that they must claim their vehicle within 14 days and pay for the towing and storage charges. If this is not done within the two-week time frame, the ministry will dispose of the vehicle.
Junkers Go to Salvage
If the vehicle is burned out, severely damaged or otherwise unsalvageable, it is towed directly from the road to a scrapyard, and the owners are advised that they are responsible for towing and disposal costs.
If the owner doesn’t claim their vehicle, or says they do not want the vehicle, the vehicle is off to the parts yard or wreckers. The ministry pays for the costs of towing, storage and disposal of the vehicle up to the 14-day limit, and receives the proceeds (if any) for the sale of the vehicle. If there is a balance of more than $10 from the transactions, then the owner is advised by letter. The letter states the amount of the balance that will be paid to the owner, within 14 days, if no information about liens (debts) against the vehicle are received by the ministry.
When Owner is Unknown
When the owner of an abandoned vehicle is unknown, the vehicle is held for up to 14 days. If no further information is received about the vehicle, it is legally transferred to a scrapyard to cover the costs of towing, storage and disposal. Should there be a balance of more than $10 after the transaction, the funds go into the provincial government’s general revenue account, as outlined in the Unclaimed Property Act.
Our process for keeping provincial routes clear of abandoned vehicles is geared to safety, and ensuring the costs of managing these vehicles is covered as fairly as possible. We solve the mystery of where (most of) the abandoned vehicles come from, and determine where they’ll go next, to free up our highways and keep you moving safely and untroubled.
What steps would you take, if your car broke down on a provincial route?
If you liked this, check out these related links:
Join the discussion