MORE OPTIONS COMING FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO ENFORCE & COLLECT PARKING TICKETS

Today the provincial government announced that municipalities will soon have more options for the enforcement of unpaid municipal parking tickets.

"Changes to provincial legislation will improve the cities' ability to collect unpaid parking tickets and significantly reduce ticket enforcement costs," Government Relations Minister Len Taylor said.

Legislation will be changed to provide municipalities a number of options to enhance compliance and enforcement of parking offences.

To reduce costs:

• court summonses may be served by ordinary mail rather than in person; and

• a conviction may be issued in default if the person served with a summons does not appear in court.

To enhance and enforce collection of fines:

• liens may be filed against vehicles;

• municipalities may immobilize or impound vehicles;

• in order to ensure that all avenues have been exhausted in extreme cases, a vehicle owner would be personally served with notice of a hearing, and brought before a judge. Only then, would incarceration be an option.

Consultations will take place with municipal stakeholders during the process of developing the details for the legislative amendments. Any changes would come into force once the legislative amendment process is complete.

Municipalities are also encouraged to use the tools currently available to them to improve enforcement and collection of parking fines.

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For More Information, Contact:

Maureen Boyle Government Relations Regina Phone: (306) 787-5959