$10 fines will increase 150%

BY LAURIE WEIR

Parking infractions are getting pricier in Perth – but fines will be more on par with outlying municipalities. 

That was a motion that came to Perth’s committee of the whole on Tuesday, Jan. 16, by Susan Beckel, the director of legislative services/clerk. 

Her recommendation – which was passed unanimously – will recognize existing No Parking At Any Time zones as signed on Garden Avenue and Decaria Boulevard, but are not included in the bylaw. She also recommended an increase in early payments and set fines for certain parking infractions. 

Recognizing the No Parking At Any Time zones on these two streets will enable staff to enforce parking infractions. Because they were not mentioned in Parking and Traffic Bylaw (No. 3961), staff could not do this. 

“The bylaw was never amended to include those two areas. The signage is there,” Beckel said. “It just needs to be amended to the bylaw.”

The second part of her recommendations is an increase in early payments for infractions received, and an increase in the set fine for certain parking tickets. 

“This bylaw is old – it’s 2009. The set fines have not been updated, and in comparison with other municipalities we’re low in some areas,” Beckel explained. “This will bring them up to where they should be. Some of them are $10, and it will bring them up to $25.”

This schedule must be approved by Chief Justice, she said, “so we have to send the schedule away and we have to get approval for that … and that’s the two parts to the amendment.”

Council unanimously passed the recommendations, and this will come to council for final approval. 

PROPOSED PARKING FINE INCREASES

• Parking at expired metre: from $16.75 to $25 for early payment, $25 current set fine to $35 proposed set fine.
• Park-Pay and Display Pass Expired: from $10 to $25 and $15 to $35.
• Park in Excess of 2 Hours: $10 to $25, $15 to $35.
• Fail to properly display: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park not within designated area: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park more than 15cm from roadway: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park left side of vehicle to curb: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park within 6.1 m of a crosswalk at an intersection: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park within 12.2 m of intersection: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park on a bridge: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park on any curb: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park on any boulevard: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park for sale of goods: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park a vehicle at any time Monday through Saturday where prohibited: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park a bus or commercial vehicle more than two hours – residential area: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park for an unreasonable length of time between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday where prohibited: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park a vehicle during daytime restriction: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park longer than 10 minutes: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park longer than 2 hours: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park where prohibited: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park longer than 30 minutes: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.
• Park more than 3 hours between 9 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at Community Centre: $16.75 to $25; $25 to $35.

Parking and permit rates in the downtown area are not recommended to increase currently.