Box Elder County adopts overnight-parking policy and authorizes police towing on county property

Box Elder County commissioners voted unanimously on March 25 to adopt a new overnight-parking policy for county-owned property, authorize local police agencies to tow vehicles that violate the policy, and repeal a prior snowstorm parking ordinance.

The action came after Deputy Attorney Glen Thurston told the commission the policy will clarify enforcement and allow towing of vehicles parked overnight on county property unless the vehicle displays an approved authorization pass. Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 26-08 and Ordinance No. 645 in roll-call votes, then authorized Letters of Agency granting Brigham City Police Department and the Tremonton-Garland Police Department authority to tow and impound vehicles parked in violation of the new policy.

Why it matters: County officials said the measures respond to repeated incidents of unauthorized overnight parking on county property and inconsistent enforcement. The Letters of Agency allow the two municipal police departments to act as the county’s agents for towing and impoundment on county land inside their jurisdictions, which county staff said will streamline removals and documentation.

What the commission approved: The resolution establishes a county policy that prohibits overnight parking on county property except where the county issues written authorization; it authorizes towing where the authorization is not displayed and directs posting of signage. Ordinance No. 645 repeals an earlier local ordinance concerning parking after snowstorms and aligns enforcement with the new policy and state statute. The commission then executed Letters of Agency authorizing Brigham City and Tremonton-Garland police to ticket, tow, and impound vehicles on county property within those cities’ jurisdictions.

How it passed: Commissioner Bingham moved to adopt Resolution 26-08; Commissioner Perry seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call: Chairman Tyler Vincent, Commissioner Boyd Bingham, and Commissioner Lee Perry all voted “yea.” The vote on Ordinance 645 and the Letters of Agency followed the same pattern.

County and enforcement guidance: Deputy Attorney Glen Thurston said county staff will issue temporary authorization passes in limited cases and that authorized vehicles displaying a pass should not be towed. The Letters of Agency instruct municipal officers to document removals using their standard operating procedures and to confirm the lack of an authorization pass before towing.

Next steps: County staff will implement signage and provide procedures for issuing authorizations. The Letters of Agency remain in effect until revoked in writing by the Box Elder County Commission.

Votes at a glance: The meeting recorded the following related actions (all approved unanimously): - Resolution 26-08 — adopting overnight-parking policy (moved Commissioner Bingham; seconded Commissioner Perry). - Ordinance 645 — repealing Ordinance 542 (moved Commissioner Perry; seconded Commissioner Bingham). - Letters of Agency — granting Brigham City and Tremonton-Garland police authority to tow/impound vehicles on county-owned property (moved Commissioner Perry; seconded Commissioner Bingham).

This article is based on the Box Elder County Commission meeting minutes and staff presentations on March 25, 2026. The commission did not set an effective date for public notice beyond standard ordinance effective-dates; staff will post signage and administrative procedures as they are finalized.