Parking fines in Stratford, long considered chump change, could increase substantially after city council addresses big increases.
A proposed set fine increase report has moved through committee levels and is on city council's agenda for their next meeting, on Nov. 27.
The report proposes adjustment to almost all offences under the city's traffic and parking bylaw. Aside from a few updates, most of the fine amounts haven't changed in at least 15 years, deputy clerk Chris Bantock told StratfordToday.
Most of the current $20 set fines (early payment $15) would triple to $60 (early payment $40), such as parking within three metres of a fire hydrant.
Parking in a 'no-parking area space', currently a set fine of $30 (early payment $20) would jump to $80 (early payment $60), while parking 'on any city street in a matter which obstructs traffic' would take a big jump from a $20 set fine to $120.
"The feedback that we are getting, when the (public) hear that we have $15 parking tickets, they would rather risk it than pay for parking. Staff are of the opinion that increasing set fines will increase compliance," Bantock told StratfordToday.
Some parking fines are amended already. An $80 set fine (early payment $60) is now in place for overnight parking ( 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.) on a roadway or shoulder - the same amount for parking in a manner that obstructs municipal snow clearing operations.
Those amounts are also in effect for parking an electric vehicle in an electric vehicle parking space not connected to an electric vehicle charging station, or not actively charging.
The city is also enforcing a $120 set fine (($100 early payment) for parking in an electric vehicle parking space when the vehicle is not an electric vehicle.
City staff participated in a survey of parking data with 23 Ontario municipalities. Comparing information from communities such as Collingwood, Grand Bend, Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Marys, St. Thomas, and Woodstock, the study found that Stratford’s set fine parking infractions were low or out of date.
Staff noted that St. Marys recently undertook a parking fine review, resulting in most infractions increasing to $70 set fines ($50 for early payment).
By bringing set fines up to today’s standards, it is expected that parking violations will decrease, and payment of parking fees will increase, Bantock said in a management report.
Using ticket infraction data for the first six months of 2023, revenue under current rates was $89,720. Revenue under this same period would project to be $218,180, an increase of 143 per cent, the report said.
