Edmonton parking fines could increase by $25

Edmonton parking scofflaws could soon be paying an extra $25 to cover a new licence plate search fee introduced by the provincial government.

A bylaw amendment to boost parking fines is expected to go to city council June 1, Todd Burge, manager of the corporate finance branch, said Wednesday.

“It will be the same kind of concept as Calgary. We’re going to have to top up the tickets, depending on what goes to court and what goes to the front end.”

Beginning in April, the province started charging municipalities $15 each time they need to electronically check a licence plate to find the name and address of a driver who speeds or parks illegally.

There now can be three searches for a parking violation — an initial one to find contact information and issue a ticket, another 18 days later before a reminder notice is sent out and a third if the ticket is challenged in court.

Although city officials are examining whether to eliminate the second check, which is intended to make sure the owner hasn’t moved, about half the tickets go to court and require a followup search, Burge said.

Although a report on the issue that will recommend how much to hike fines is still being completed, they’re looking at about $25, he said.

Fines now range from $35 for parking at an expired meter to $150 for leaving a vehicle in a fire lane.

Calgary decided this week to boost its parking fines by $15, but it has a different system, Burge said.

Edmonton staff have estimated the new search charge will add $4 million in costs this year to deal with parking offences.

Searching plates for speeders caught on photo radar will cost an additional $6 million, but those fines are set by the province and are outside the city’s jurisdiction.

So far, there has been no indication whether speeding fines will go up to cover the extra expenses, Burge said.

“We have met with Service Alberta, and I understand the AUMA (Alberta Urban Municipalities Association) is involved with lobbying on behalf of municipalities.”

Coun. Kim Krushell said Edmonton would have to dig into savings or cut the police budget if offenders aren’t made to cover the new costs.

“We’re going to pass that on to the ticket, because the person who is speeding or whatever, that’s the person who should pay,” she said.

“It’s my understanding a bylaw change is coming forward in the same way that the City of Calgary implemented theirs. We will be passing the charge on in the same way to the person who has done the parking infraction.”