According to Lethbridge City Council, by raising parking fees, it will encourage compliance and increase parking revenue. (Photo: LNN)

By Sarah Jones

Lethbridge City Council looking to raise parking fines to $50

Jan 25, 2023 | 11:57 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Drivers in Lethbridge will have to be careful with where they park as penalties might be going up.

During the first council meeting of the year on January 24, 2023, Lethbridge’s elected officials looked over the amendments of Traffic Bylaw 5834.

In November 2022, the city’s Economic Standing Policy Committee recommended a change in parking fines when deliberating the 2023-2026 operating budget by introducing Bylaw 6393.

Bylaw 6393 will raise the fines of parking tickets from $25 to $50 while maintaining the $15 reduction if payment is received within seven days from the date of the offence.

Compared to other similarly-sized municipalities, the City of Lethbridge says it charges the lowest fines for traffic and parking-related infractions.

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A screengrab from the City of Lethbridge’s power point on Parking Fine Increases published on December 29, 2022. (Photo: City of Lethbridge)

According to City Council, by raising the fees, it will encourage compliance and increase parking revenue as the lower fines are not a meaningful enough deterrent.

The increase in fines is estimated to generate an additional $250,000 in revenue annually.

In the bylaw report indicates that the higher fees will help parking turnover and increase customer spaces for businesses.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 1,920 paid parking spaces in the downtown core.

First reading of the proposed bylaw was completed at the January 24 meeting.

City Council will give second and third readings for Bylaw 6393, on February 7, 2023, and if approved, the new rates will be implemented by the end of February 2023.

Read more at LethbridgeNewsNow.com