Parking boss eyes new tactics after row over cul-de-sac blitz
After bombarding residents of a southwest cul-de-sac with parking tickets while they slept, Calgary’s transportation boss says the parking authority is eyeing “different tactics.”
Last month, homeowners who live on Woodmont Green S.W. awoke to find parking tickets tucked under the windshield wipers of 25 vehicles, imposing fines between $40-$70 for angle parking instead of parallel parking in the cul-de-sac where residents say space for vehicles is at a premium.
The tickets were issued around 2:30 a.m.
Southeast Coun. Andre Chabot told council Monday he’s heard from dozens of his constituents living on cul-de-sacs since the Woodbine blitz, all telling a similar story.
Chabot said some other residents in his ward were also ticketed for parking for longer than 72 hours without the benefit of a warning, something he believes may get the message across to residents without hitting them with fines.
“It’s been all over. Almost every one of my communities has been hit, including late at night,” Chabot said.
“I’m hoping we can look at the rules around angled parking in cul-de-sacs and I’d like to see some exclusions where it doesn’t make sense.”
Dorothy Buller, who lives in an oddly shaped cul-de-sac in Huntington Hills, said her street has seen the presence of parking officers for the first time in the 11 years she’s lived there, ticketing cars that weren’t following the letter of the law.
“Where we live it’s virtually impossible to park like that without blocking people from the street,” the 63-year-old said.
“It really isn’t rocket science. It’s just the dumbest thing ever.”
Mac Logan, the city’s general manager of transportation, said the Woodbine ticket blitz was recently addressed at a Calgary Parking Authority’s meeting, adding the agency’s brass is looking at ways to ensure communities aren’t blindsided with a pricey lesson in sometimes arcane parking bylaws.
“The bottom line is it’s about working with the community,” Logan said, adding that in the case of the Woodbine blitz, the tickets were issued following a single complaint from a resident.
“The message has been received loud and clear and we’re working with the board to look at different tactics.”
Logan said in the past the parking authority had used informational door hangers to remind residents about the rules but noted that tactic “hasn’t been particularly effective.”
“We don’t have a formal warning type of mechanism,” he said.
Parking authority general manager Mike Derbyshire wasn’t available for comment Monday, instead offering a statement that parking supervisors will be consulted in the future when necessary.
“Prior to enforcing these types of infractions, an on-duty CPA supervisor will be consulted as to the appropriateness of the particular enforcement action, taking into account safety-related issues, time of day, number of infractions and other considerations where discretion may be required,” he said.