'We just want people to pay their tickets': Winnipeg looking to recoup parking fines with new program
CTV
The City of Winnipeg is cracking down on drivers with unpaid parking tickets.
The City of Winnipeg is cracking down on drivers with unpaid parking tickets.
According to a spokesperson, there are 7,204 people with three or more outstanding tickets, equating to $3.2 million owed.
“The city has around $11 million…to $12 million at any given time in outstanding parking tickets,” said Public Works Committee Chair Janice Lukes. “That’s a problem.”
To help curb the costs, the city launched a new program on Feb. 15 that targets recurring offenders.
Under the new policy, if you have three or more unpaid parking tickets and are parked illegally, the city can tow your vehicle. In order to get the car back, you’ll have to pay the towing fee and the illegal parking fine, but not the outstanding tickets.
“Right now, the city can’t put the parking ticket money on a tax bill,” Lukes said.
According to Lukes, the city is working with the province to find a way to include the fines in people’s property taxes.
