City turns grinch over unpaid parking ticket
Holiday spirit is in short supply at City Hall, according to a Penticton man who’s gearing up for a long battle over a $55 parking ticket. Anthony Fraser was dinged Oct. 17 for failing to display a residents-only parking tag in his car while it was parked outside his home on the 100 block of Brunswick Street.
While he does have a pass, he claims it was knocked from view that day by his 16-year-old son, who has autism and tends to fiddle with things.
Unable to come up with $55 because he’s on a disability pension, Fraser says he went to City Hall and filed a formal appeal to have the ticket torn up.
“I do live here, I do have a parking pass – easily verifiable – and that’s the only thing that matters. They could have a little leniency on being reasonable in that circumstance,” he said.
Fraser says he heard nothing back from City Hall until receiving a letter dated Nov. 30 informing him he had 28 days to pay the fine or face collection action.
After what he describes as multiple failed attempts to reach her, Fraser claims he finally spoke to bylaw services supervisor Tina Siebert earlier this week and was rebuffed.
“There was no rational discussion. I couldn’t believe how bureaucratic it was,” he said. Siebert declined to confirm Fraser’s story or explain how much discretion her department has to cancel tickets.
“The phone conversation with Mr. Fraser was difficult and did not end well,” she said in a statement, “so I would encourage him to come speak with me in person and perhaps he can bring his autistic son and we can see what we can do to assist him.”
Fraser admits he was difficult — in particular by threatening to sue the city and share his story with the media — but claims he was simply frustrated.
He hopes by sharing his story that others will have the courage to fight back against what he perceives as unfair treatment.
“Stand up for yourself in the face of arbitrary bureaucracy, because if everybody did that, they wouldn’t
Th ere was no rational discussion. I couldn’t believe how bureaucratic it was.
even try to pull this crap. It’s just that most people bend over and take it,” said Fraser.
The next step in his case is taking the matter to a dispute adjudicator, which he intends to do, despite the cost to taxpayers.
“They’re going to spend a bunch of money having a bunch of people talking about it — again — instead of just doing the right thing,” said Fraser.