Motorists who abandon vehicles within the Clarence Valley local government area have been put on notice; if you are caught you will cop hefty fines and towing fees. In the past nine months, Clarence Valley Council rangers have dealt with 19 abandoned vehicles, which cost ratepayers around $4000 in towing fees. Senior ranger, Tim Brenton, said council’s patience had run out, and the last registered owner of a vehicle could be hit with an on-the-spot fine of $550 if their vehicle was found abandoned. “Where we can locate the owners of those vehicles, they will also be responsible for the cost of towing and disposal,” he said. “Hopefully this will alleviate a lot of these vehicles being left on the side of the roads and vandalised, and cover some of the costs council has faced in the past.”