Nov 12, 2008 - 11:15 AM

By Keith Gilligan

AJAX -- Vehicles left on the road overnight could be towed this winter.

Ajax councillors approved a measure that will allow for towing if the vehicle impedes plowing during or after a snowstorm.

"To be towed, you have to impede plowing operations," Steve Brake, the manager of operations, told council's general government committee on Thursday.

The other component is to "give bylaw the ability to tow where they can," Mr. Brake said.

More than 500 tickets were issued last winter for vehicles getting in the way of plowing, bylaw services manager Derek Hannan said. "If it's interfering with the course of snow removal, that's when it's towed."

"Ticketing isn't enough," Mr. Brake said, adding emergency service vehicles have a hard time navigating some streets when cars are parked on the road.

"We're recommending vehicles be towed to allow us to get down there in an expedient manner," Mr. Brake said.

Wards 3 and 4 Regional Councillor Colleen Jordan questioned the message sent about not being allowed to park on the road in the winter, noting people hold Christmas parties.

"When they come out and the car's been towed away. I understand the reason, but really, there's nowhere to put them," she said.

"We have to be consistent and fair in our approach," Mr. Brake said.

"It's not the street's responsibility to look after cars on the street. We tell people 'it's your responsibility once you took the first drink what to with your vehicle left out on the street'," Mr. Hannan said.

Ward 4 local Councillor Pat Brown said in new subdivisions, there's isn't room in the driveway for more than one car.

During the winter, streets are patrolled between 3 and 6 a.m. and any vehicle on the road is ticketed, Mr. Hannan said.

Also this winter, some parking lots and trails won't be plowed, Mr. Brake said.

There are 39 parking lots the Town is responsible for plowing and staff wanted 14 to be closed, or left unplowed, over the winter.

"To keep service levels to where we'd like to keep them, we think it's a good recommendation to close them," Mr. Brake said. "Our whole focus is to improve service where we can. We'll close parking lots and pathways where we can."

Some that will be closed include two on the waterfront, between Harwood Avenue and Rotary Park, one at Cedar Park, and one off Westney Road north of Millington Crescent.