PoCo parent calls for clarity on towing laws after getting towed

Karine de Moura Maia was standing on Clarke Road trying to figure out what happened to her car.

She’d parked near the Pizza Factory to grab some diapers and few other essentials for her two young children and her wife, who is undergoing cancer treatment. When she got back the car was gone.

After calling the police to report a stolen car, she found a sign partially obscured by a tree. It was a sign for Benjamin Towing.

Her car had been towed.

After paying $426 to get the car out of the impound lot, Maia is pushing for stricter rules on signage.

“I think the city needs to help,” she said.

Maia said she considered taking legal action, but she’d prefer to put an end to what she sees as an unfair practice.

Coquitlam’s bylaw enforcement staff are reviewing complaints regarding Benjamin Towing, confirmed the city’s senior manager of bylaw services Aaron Hilgerdenaar.

“We are reviewing the matter to determine whether any provisions of the city’s Business Licence or Vehicle for Hire Bylaws apply,” Hilgerdenaar wrote in an email to the Dispatch.

However, the city’s jurisdiction in private property towing matters is limited, Hilgerdenaar explained, noting the city doesn’t regulate towing contracts or set fees between private property owners and towing companies.

Benjamin Towing strives to ensure their signs comply with local regulations and are clearly visible, the company stated in a message to the Dispatch, noting their signs are: “the same size as any other towing companies.”

“The responsibility for the parking regulation signage typically lies with the private property owner, as they contract us to enforce their parking regulations,” the company stated. “However, we work closely with property owners to ensure signs meet the standards required by municipal bylaws in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody.”

Those standards need an overhaul, according to Maia. Part of the problem is that private property is publicly accessible, she said.

“This is not a private space, it’s a semi-private space,” she said. “It’s confusing for people.”

In those cases, drivers should contact either the property owners, management companies, or Benjamin Towing so the issue can be resolved.

Port Coquitlam received complaints about the company in 2024, according to manager of planning Jennifer Little.

“We followed up with the business about these complaints, and reminded them of the city’s requirements for towing operations,” Little stated, noting those requirements including following ICBC rates and having a secured yard.

Port Coquitlam is also set to discuss recent complaints with Coquitlam city staff, “to determine authority and jurisdiction for follow up with the business,” Little stated.

The company has been frequently scrutinized, according to the statement from Benjamin Towing.

“Due to the nature of our business, our company is being treated poorly by some people, but, we are always looking to improve our operations and maintain positive relationships with the community,” the company stated.

For Maia, the key issue is the need for clear laws and for loopholes to be closed.

“I’m not trying to escape responsibility,” Maia explained. “I just believe people deserve to be clearly informed – not trapped.”