Whitehorse looks to hike parking fines starting this summer

Whitehorse city council looks set to hike parking fines — but councillors waffled on Monday about what an appropriate increase would be.

The city is in the middle of updating its traffic bylaw to increase fines – including parking fines – and extend the time that parking meters are in effect to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Currently, metered parking is from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

City officials recommended that parking fines be doubled to $50, with a $15 discount for same-day payment. 

The current fine of $25 – or $10 if you pay the same day – hasn't been updated in 18 years and doesn't deter people from overstaying at a meter, according to city staff, and a $50 fine is still cheaper than many other Canadian jurisdictions.

All councillors except Mayor Kirk Cameron advocated for a smaller fine increase or larger same-day payment discount, citing overwhelmingly negative comments from the public since the recommendation was introduced on April 7. 

"This is not going to be popular," said Coun. Anne Middler. "Particularly at a time when people are feeling very stressed with their personal finances."

Bylaw manager Elizabeth Beecroft questioned whether the outcry from residents might be signalling a larger problem.

"Are we trying to adjust the fines [lower] to help people save money, because we know they're going to get fined?" she said. "I'm not sure if it's actually a fine problem, or an overall issue with parking downtown that hasn't been addressed yet."

Increasing fines alone 'not a viable solution,' says business owner

Bree Pepper, a self-employed hairstylist downtown, addressed council as a delegate on Monday night. 

She said her clients often need to park longer than two hours — the maximum allowable time at most metered spots — and now risk a severe financial penalty for receiving her services. 

She said many other beauty operators downtown also book client appointments exceeding the two-hour time limit. Pepper also asked council to consider downtown workers who require parking for their entire shift.

"The city needs to recognize that simply increasing fees without providing a viable solution for customers of all types of downtown businesses falls far short of being inclusive," Pepper said.

Coun. Paolo Gallina ultimately introduced a motion to drop the parking fine to $40 with a $20 discount for same-day payment. 

The motion passed with a 5-2 vote. Only Mayor Kirk Cameron and Coun. Lenore Morris voted against it. In two weeks, the revised bylaw amendment will come back to council for a third and final reading.

If passed, the changes will come into effect on July 1.

Other increased fines include disposing litter from a vehicle, which would go up from $125 to $250; parking on a sidewalk, which would increase from $50 to $125; and interfering with road maintenance or snow removal, which would go up from $75 to $250. City staff say most of the affected fines were changed to align with comparable offences in other bylaws.