Public to have input on potential parking fine increase

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on February 8, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

City council has delayed a decision on raising the penalties for parking fines in the city.

Council voted on Tuesday to refer to the matter to the Feb. 15 Economic Standing Policy Committee so members of the public could have input on the matter.

Councillor Nick Paladino said no public hearing was held on the matter and he supported it being addressed by an SPC.

Deputy mayor Ryan Parker agreed.

After discussions, council decided to move the matter to the Economic SPC even though as city clerk Bonnie Hilford said, parking is under the community safety umbrella. The Community Safety SPC is scheduled to meet Thursday.

Council gave first reading on Jan. 24 to Bylaw 6393, a bylaw to amend Traffic Bylaw 5834.

If parking fines are increased, the penalty would rise from $25 to $50 while maintaining the $15 reduction if the fine is paid within seven days of offense.

The current traffic bylaw has three schedules with fines of $25, $30 and $50. All fines are reduced by the same $15 amount if paid in seven days.

According to a report to council submitted by Traffic Engineering and Planning Manager Ahmed Ali, most infraction sections in the traffic bylaw relate to parking and current fines are the lowest compared to similar municipalities.

Ali’s report says one flat fine will make the application of fines “simple and encourage compliance.”

The report to council says lower parking fines aren’t a meaningful deterrent to infractions while increasing them will result in increased compliance and also an increase in parking revenue without the City implementing a parking rate increase.

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