Cash-strapped city cracking down on parking-ticket, bylaw-fine deadbeats

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/03/2025 (232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The city’s effort to claim $12.7 million of unpaid parking and bylaw fines will soon include text messages that remind scofflaws to pay up.

A Thursday news release notes CBV Collection Services Ltd. will begin sending text messages to remind people about unpaid tickets.

“We’ve honestly tried a lot of different tools throughout the years (to get payment) and we continue to try new things,” said Lioubov Gavrilova-Crozier, manager of finance for the Winnipeg Parking Authority.

Gavrilova-Crozier said the first point of contact about unpaid tickets will still come through a mailed letter, followed by an attempt to reach the person by phone. After that, a general text could urge people with unpaid fines to get in touch with the city.

A sample text shared by the city states: “Message for John Smith regarding The City of Winnipeg. Please call us toll-free at 1-866-887-0751 or call Wpg311 to validate.”

Gavrilova-Crozier said the hope is that the text alerts will catch people’s attention.

While a city release notes many phishing scams are conducted via text messages, public education will aim to help ensure the legitimate texts aren’t ignored, she said.

“If people are concerned or not sure, they can always call 311,” said Gavrilova-Crozier.

Some people who’ve failed to pay tickets have told the parking authority they ignored letters about the fines, thinking they were a scam, she said.

While anyone with unpaid fines could receive a general text, individuals can opt in to receive text reminders with a payment link after they are first notified, the city said.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said there is some concern that people already inundated with texts will ignore the city’s messages or consider them fake.

However, the option to contact 311 to determine if the text is real should address that issue while opening up a new way to reach people, said Lukes (Waverley West).

“Everyone’s different and… receives information differently… We are expanding our avenues of getting the message out to pay the bill,” she said.

Lukes said cracking down on unpaid tickets could help the cash-strapped city collect money it is owed.

“It’s important to understand that the City of Winnipeg is really in a difficult financial position and we’re looking at improving our ability for collecting tickets, issuing tickets…. We’re looking at many, many avenues to ensure we can collect money that’s outstanding and improve services,” she said.

Coun. Markus Chambers previously raised concerns about people mistaking mailed notices of parking fines as scams. However, he also expects public education will reduce the risk of city texts being dismissed as suspicious.

“As long as… people are aware that the city is taking steps to ensure that fines are paid, they shouldn’t be coming back and saying… this is a scam,” said Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River).

The city has gradually taken several steps to try to ensure the parking and bylaw fines get paid.

Next week, its collection agency will start issuing letters to warn that the unpaid fines will be reported to credit bureaus 30 days after the letter is delivered. The change was first announced in February.

The move can reduce a vehicle owner’s credit score, which can make it harder to secure a loan or obtain a credit card.

Last year, the city implemented a policy to immediately tow and impound an illegally parked vehicle if the owner has three or more previous unpaid parking tickets. Starting in the summer, it will apply to owners with two or more unpaid tickets.

The city can also place a lien on a vehicle whose owner fails to pay parking tickets; the vehicle could then be seized and sold at auction.

The unpaid fines included $7.8 million from parking tickets and $4.9 million in non-parking penalties, as of Dec. 31, 2024. The latter fines are linked to city bylaw offences, such as penalties for uncut grass, noxious weeds and excess garbage.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga