Posted on Fri, Dec. 16, 2005

Car towed? You've got company

Unlucky 500 owners also hit with steeper fees

Despite a new phone warning system that authorities say worked well, more than 500 St. Paul drivers had their cars towed during the season's first big snowfall.

They were hauled to one of two St. Paul impound lots after more than 6 inches of snow blanketed the region. About 1,100 vehicles were towed in Minneapolis.

If you're waiting in line to get your car, you might be in for sticker shock. The city raised impound fees this year, and you'll be out $165.21 if your car gets towed.

While tows are slightly down from the first big snowfall last year, the overall number of cars ticketed took a huge dive. During the first snowfall last year, nearly 3,500 cars were ticketed. This year: just 1,334.

"The phone system worked beautifully," Public Works Director Bob Sandquist said.

St. Paul tried an automated snow emergency notification system for the first time last year, but the system failed to reach large numbers of people and the city jettisoned the contractor.

This year, the city hired Florida-based Code Red to make the calls, and Sandquist said the system was 95 percent effective.

The city has a hard time reaching renters, non-English speakers and people with unlisted numbers. To help with the second group, the city went door to door earlier this year distributing fliers in seven languages about snow emergencies.

Tagging and towing of illegally parked vehicles continues until 9 p.m. Sunday.

— Jason Hoppin

• For snow emergency information, call 651-266-PLOW.

• For information about towing, call 651-487-4700.

• If you wish to be added to or removed from the notification system, visit www.stpaul.gov/depts/publicworks/snowplow. html.