The City would like to remind drivers that the discount for paying a parking ticket early is now $20. 

Until now, the penalty for parking at an expired meter, parking within a pay station zone stall when time purchased has expired, and parking longer than traffic signs allow is $50, with a discounted rate of $10 if paid within 14 days.  The discounted fine increases from $10 to $20.

This increase for parking violations is intended to deter people from parking at one meter all day, allowing for more turnover in parking spaces.

“Parking spaces are in high demand in some areas, and this is a contentious issue in our City,” says Transportation Branch Manager, Angela Gardiner.  “We need to find a good balance between parking rates and penalties for violations.”

There has been a significant increase in expired meter tickets since 2010 when the parking meter hourly fee increased from $1.50 to $2.  At current rates, someone could pay to park at a meter all day for $18, but a violation for parking at an unpaid meter for the entire could day could be as low as $10 -- if paid within 14 days -- and providing a driver only gets one ticket that day.

While the City earns revenue from both parking meters and parking tickets, this strategy is intended to increase parking turnover in metered areas and reduce the number of parking violations.