Some cars escaping tickets and towing during street cleaning, according to councillor

This is something you don't hear everyday: somecouncillors are upset that more residents aren't having their cars towed from city streets.

• Calgary street sweeping begins Sunday

That's because the spring sweeping of Calgary's collective winter mess is well underway and apparently the promisedvehicle relocations aren't happening in all cases.

"I got lots and lots of calls and email asking me why when my street is being cleaned but a lot of vehicles still parked there, and then afterwards they come out and still have a lot of gravel on the road," said Coun. Sean Chu.

The city started ticketing and towing vehicles in 2015 and upped the fines in 2016 from $50 to $120.

Lack of staff

Mac Logan, the general manager of transportation, said there's a reason some vehicles might be escaping without punishment.

"We do not have enough parking authority and tow crews to go out with all of the street cleaning crews, so there are neighbourhoods where we are not able to towvehicles everyday," he said.

"We have towed Ithink it's close to 1,000vehicles already so there is a lot of towing happening."

Thanks to a mild winter and warm spring, the city is already 89 per cent through this year's cleanup.

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