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Alberta Moves to Take Authority Over Auto Industry Watchdog and Makes Changes to Ticket Fines

Apr 14, 2016 | 6:48 AM

EDMONTON: The Alberta government has introduced a bill to give it authority to address concerns with the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council.

The council works as an industry watchdog licensing and regulating auto dealers, repair shops and sales people while also investigating consumer complaints.

A recent government review of the council found administrative problems and concerns with how it handled consumer investigations.

Service Alberta Minister Stephanie McLean says the proposed legislation would give the province authority to make sure the council did its job, and would allow the government to fire board directors or employees if necessary.

The council has failed to make recommended changes to its practices dating back to 2009.

Also, Albertans who fail to pay fines for minor offences may soon discover they can’t register their vehicles.

The province has proposed legislation to change how it handles infractions such as littering, jaywalking, trespassing and riding a transit train without a ticket.

People could still fight a ticket in court, but if they didn’t or were convicted they would no longer be issued a warrant or face getting arrested.

The fine would come up instead when they tried to re-register their vehicle.

If that isn’t effective, the province says it will pursue other civil measures such as deducting the fine from income tax rebates.