Parking tickets are once again being handed out in downtown Penticton.
After taking a lengthy hiatus from ticketing people parked at downtown metered and timed street locations, Penticton bylaw officers hit the streets yesterday (Jan. 11) to hand out tickets for the first time since March 2020.
Parking was made free everywhere in the city in March, after the coronavirus pandemic hit.
READ MORE: COVID-19: City of Penticton waives parking meter fees
The city had always planned to resume normal paid-parking and timed parking enforcement in 2021, said Penticton’s bylaw supervisor Tina Siebert.
“We just gave it a little bit of grace,” said Siebert on Monday. “We just started renewing the enforcement today (Jan. 11) on our part, obviously people aren’t happy with that but we’ve been giving it away on the street for free since March.”
Bylaw enforcement officers were visible on the streets checking cars Monday, and plenty of vehicles were seen in the downtown area sporting tickets on their windshields.
Siebert estimates that approximately 20 tickets were handed out during the first day of resumed enforcement. However, some tickets were only issued as a warning.
The rate for metered on-street parking across the city is now $2 per hour, gradually raising from $1 per hour in recent years.
A parking ticket issued by the City of Penticton cost $25 if paid within two weeks, but goes up to a $45 charge if not paid within that two week grace-period.
For people who need daily, long-term downtown parking there are permits available for $50 a month for a handful a downtown lots.
READ MORE: Special weather statement in effect for all highway passes
jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter