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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1980
POLICE TO BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO TOW AWAY
ILLEGALLY PARKED CARS
*****
THE POLICE WILL BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO TOW AWAY ABANDONED CARS AND CARS CAUSING OBSTRUCTION WHEN IT REPLACES FIVE OF ITS LANDROVERS THIS YEAR WITH LARGER TOWING VEHICLES CAPABLE OF LIFTING UP TO FOUR TONS IN WEIGHT, IN ADDITION, FUNDS ARE BEING SOUGHT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THREE MORE TOW TRUCKS CAPABLE OF LIFTING UP TO EIGHT TONS WEIGHT.
HON JOYCE
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. THE HON DEREK JONES IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE REV THE BENNETT AND THE HON ALEX WU IN TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.
MR JONES SAID THAT THE POLICE NOW HAD 14 LANDROVERS TO TOW AWAY VEHICLES THAT HAD BEEN ABANDONED, INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR PARKED ILLEGALLY ON THE STREETS.
HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT THESE LANDROVERS WERE ONLY CAPABLE OF MOVING SMALL OR MEDIUM-SIZED SALOON CARS AND ANY LARGER VEHICLES HAD TO BE REMOVED BY COMMERCIAL OPERATORS HIRED FOR THE PURPOSE.
+WHERE THERE IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, OR VERY HEAVY VEHICLES ARE INVOLVED, HEAVY DUTY TOW TRUCKS BELONGING TO THE ARMY, THE FIRE SERVICES, OR THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE OF THE PWD ARE ASKED TO ASSIST, HE SAID,
REFERRING TO ILLEGAL PARKING AND DOUBLE PARKING IN THE STREETS, MR JONES SAID A FIXED PENALTY TICKET WOULD USUALLY BE ISSUED, BUT IF THE VEHICLES CAUSED SERIOUS OBSTRUCTION TO TRAFFIC OR POSED A SAFETY HAZARD THEY WOULD BE TOWED AWAY.
OWNERS MAY RECOVER THEIR CARS BY PAYING A TOWING FEE OF $80 PLUS $20 PER DAY, AFTER THE SECOND DAY, FOR EVERY DAY THE VEHICLE IS LEFT IN THE POLICE POUND.
IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 1979, A TOTAL OF 1 115 ENFORCEMENT TOWS WERE CARRIED OUT BY THE POLICE.
REFERRING TO ABANDONED VEHICLES, MR JONES POINTED OUT THAT ACCORDING TO THE LAW, WHEN A VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED FOR MORE THAN 72 HOURS, THE POLICE MUST GIVE THE REGISTERED OWNER SEVEN DAYS' NOTICE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE STREETS.
IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT REMOVED IN THIS PERIOD, IT IS THEN TAKEN TO THE POLICE POUND WHERE THE OWNER IS ALLOWED ONE MONTH TO RECLAIM IT. THEREAFTER, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE CAN DISPOSE OF THE VEHICLE BÝ AUCTION OR AS HE THINKS FIT.
+ IT IS NOT THE PRACTICE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE LAST REGISTERED OWNERS OF ABANDONED VEHICLES BECAUSE THE SALE OF SUCH VEHICLES BY AUCTION OR FOR SCRAP USUALLY MORE THAN COVERS THE COST OF REMOVAL,+ HE SAID.
/HOWEVER,