By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on December 19, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
Local residents and others can expect to pay higher fines for parking infractions in the future.
City council last week gave second and third reading to Bylaw 6427 which amends Traffic Bylaw 5834 to increase parking fines to $40 from $25 with a $20 reduction for early payment in the downtown core and to $50 from $25 for all other offences with an early payment reduction of $15.
People who get tickets will have three more days from the current seven to have fines lowered.
The changes were recommended during engagement and consultation with representatives of the Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone and the Heart of the City committee.
In January, council heard that a comparison of similar-sized municipalities shows Lethbridge has among the lowest parking and traffic-related fines.
The planned implementation date is Feb. 1.
A report to council on Tuesday stated that increased compliance results in more revenue but also a higher parking turnover which helps businesses have parking available for customers.
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As if we didn’t need another reason to avoid downtown !
Gotta pay for the new exhibition some how…