18°c A few clouds
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Councillors may levy automatic fines for trashy yards
Discarded garbage, furniture and mattresses in a empty lot on Flora Ave. near McGregor Street. (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Winnipeg may consider handing out automatic fines to residents who leave garbage lying around or let their grass grow too high.
This morning, council's protection and community services committee voted in favour of a plan to examine how Winnipeg could ticket landlords who do not provide adequate heat to tenants.
The idea was championed by Coun. Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre), who said more than 300 landlords in 2012 violated the basic heat requirement for tenants.
Peter de Graaf, manager of the city's bylaw enforcement, called it a "great idea" to ticket landlords who do not provide adequate heat, and said the city also wants to examine whether it could issue automatic tickets to residents who violate other parts of Winnipeg's neighbourhood livability bylaw, such as leaving garbage in their yard or having illegal signs.
Right now, de Graaf said the city issues common offence notices to people who violate the bylaw, and the fine is set by a judge in bylaw court.
However, de Graaf said it takes between six and eight weeks for a first court appearance, and the process could take six months or longer to resolve if someone pleads not guilty.
He said issuing automatic set fines could deter residents and landlords from violating the bylaw in the first place.
City administration will report back to the committee in October about how a new process could work.
"It's a great idea," de Graaf said.
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 34 articles for today)
Decades-old smoke bomb found behind Crescentwood home
7:17 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Housing a little more expensive in Manitoba: RBC
- Lake St. Martin reserve close to getting new home
- Some good news, some bad news from weatherman
- Manitoba senators weigh in on scandal
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- Quicker pickup of bulk garbage urged
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Police identify slaying victims
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- 'Responsible Winnipeg' ads appear on sign run by mayor-owned Goldeyes' baseball park
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Man missing since 2009 found safe
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- U of M president targets low tuition
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- Baby steps toward empathy
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- New units to help keep invasive aquatic species out of province
- New provincial restrictions on buying cigarettes
- Bethania board puts CEO on leave amid probe
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Lake St. Martin reserve close to getting new home
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Fishing for fashion
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Newly minted MD a beacon for kids in youth program
- North End proud
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.