Drive-in hit with $20,000 parking tax

The owner of the Lower Mainland's last drive-in theatre says he's been assessed an extra $20,000 for his movie "parking spaces" because of a controversial new parking tax.

Langley drive-in 'parking lot' (Courtesy: Twilight Drive-in)

• LINK: TransLink parking stall tax

The Twilight Drive-In's Jay Daulat says he has more than 400 stalls at his Langley facility, but argues it's not like a shopping mall parking lot.

"Once you come into the drive-in, you don't lose control of your car as you would in a parkade mall or something like that. You sit in your car, you look at the movie, and then you go, you know."

He also notes that the operating hours are much shorter that people only come for four hours.

• INTERVIEW: The Early Edition's Paul Grant speaks with Jay Daulat.

However, TransLink maintains the drive-in should be taxed as a commercial parking lot, because it attracts people who use the roads that TransLink pays to maintain.

Daulat says he has appealed the tax assessment, but says if he's unsuccessful the extra cost could trickle down to movie-goers.

Daulat opened his Langley theatre last year after closing the Hillcrest Drive-In in Surrey.

• LINK: Twilight Drive-In