City to issue winter parking tickets faster

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This article was published 13/10/2021 (1807 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CITY of Winnipeg officials will use advanced technology to ticket drivers who illegally park during plowing operations this winter.

On Tuesday, the city’s public works committee voted in favour of using automated licence plate recognition to fine people whose vehicles are parked on residential street during restricted times due to plowing.

“Using… automated licence plate recognition, we (will) mail (people’s) tickets very quickly,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan). “We’ll be able to get to those more quickly, and hopefully people will actually keep their vehicles off the streets during those major plowing operations.”

In years past, the Winnipeg Parking Authority would manually issue tickets. The new process will be faster, councillors say.

Matt Allard, chair of the public works committee, proposed officials only be able to use the licence plate recognition ahead of snowplows once per round. If the authorities go back down a street, they should be ticketing manually, he said. The committee rejected his pitch.

“My concern was that with this new technology, the residents might go back to the street that’s been mostly plowed (and park), and that those residents would be ticketed,” Allard said.

“The public service has assured us… that their intention is to go use the technology prior to plows. But, they do have the authority to use the technology as long as the parking bans are in effect.”

Ticket prices will not go up — at least, not yet. The public works committee voted to move that issue to the city’s budget process.

A new report suggested increasing the $150 fine to $200 when people leave their vehicle on a residential street while residential parking bans are in effect.

“We want our operators to be able to do their jobs and remove snow effectively,” Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert–Seine River) said. “It’s not a secret, it’s not a hidden agenda or a hidden announcement… The public knows that a plow is coming — they should move their cars.”

The number of violations has increased in recent years. Last year, the city issued 1,220 tickets for related parking breaches. In 2018, the number was 923.

Winnipeg provides “courtesy tows” to drivers, which involves pulling vehicles off the road so plows can get through. The cost of towing jumped to $483,449 this year — so far — from $117,880 in 2018.

In January 2021, there were nearly 12,200 courtesy tows.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com