Starting next year, parking tickets will be more punishing in Penticton.
Council approved the proposal unanimously from the city to increase fines for parking tickets by up to $10.
Following council’s approval, the change in fees will take effect Jan. 1, 2021.
Most tickets, if paid early or on-time, would only increase by $5. There are currently two types of parking tickets issued in Penticton.
Type ‘A’ tickets are given to drivers who either fail to pay to park in a metered spot or stay longer than the time they paid for. The cost of a type A ticket $20 if paid early, $40 if paid on time, and $45 if paid late. Staff is recommending all of these fines be raised by $5.
Type ‘B’ tickets are reserved for drivers who park in residential areas without a permit, in yellow curb zones, and other no parking zones. The cost of a type B ticket $40 if paid early or $55 otherwise. Staff is recommending that council raise the early payment fine to $45, the on-time fine to $60 as well as the introduction of a $65 penalty for type B infractions that are paid late.
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In 2019, the city collected approximately $116,000 in revenue from 7,345 parking tickets issued. Approximately 66 per cent of the tickets were type A while 34 per cent were type B, according to the city staff’s report.
Staff estimates that the proposed ticket cost hike would generate an additional $28,000 in annual revenue.
By comparison, a parking ticket in Kelowna costs approximately $30, said the report from Penticton city staff. While a parking meter ticket in Vancouver will cost you $46 if paid within two weeks, $77 if paid within a month and $105 after that, according to the City of Vancouver.
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With files from Jesse Day
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