Prepare to Pay More For Bad Parking

The City of Guelph sent out this release today warning drivers that if you're going to be a parking scoflaw in the borders of the Royal City, then you're going to start paying more for it starting nthis week. Here's the press release:

GUELPH, ON, January 13, 2010 – The City of Guelph has increased fines related to the City's Traffic Bylaw, in accordance with the 2009 budget process. Following the approval of an increase in fines about a year ago, several housekeeping amendments to the City's traffic and parking by-laws have been made and additional by-law provisions have been incorporated. With this work now complete, the City is ready to implement the fee increase.

Effective January 19, 2010 traffic fines associated with Guelph’s Traffic By-law will increase.

Parking fines associated with other Guelph by-laws will increase, once the set fines for each these by-laws are approved by the Regional Senior Justice, West Region, which is expected to occur over the next few months.

"Most traffic and parking fines will increase by approximately $10," says Doug Godfrey of the parking regulation and enforcement office for the city. An exception would be parking in an accessible parking space without a proper parking permit which will increase by $50. Traffic By-law violations affected by the increase in fines include riding a bicycle on a sidewalk and skateboarding on a roadway.