Parking fines in downtown Victoria are set to rise for the first time in nearly two decades.
Last Thursday, Victoria council unanimously approved the increase in fines as a new way to generate revenue and help reduce this year’s property tax hike.
The last parking fine hike occurred 16-years-ago and comes one year after the city increased fees for parking on Victoria streets, as well as expanded the hours during which pay parking is in effect.
Presently, a parking fine in Victoria costs $40, or $20 if paid within 14 days. Starting next month, fines for metered and time-limited zones will rise to $60, or $30 for early payment within two weeks.
Fines for parking in residential or no-stopping zones will increase to $80, with a discount to $40 for early payment. Fines for commercial zones will also increase to $80, but the early payment discount will be $50.
Last year, the City of Victoria implemented changes to parking regulations, discontinuing free parking after 6 p.m. and initiating charges for on-street metered spots daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., as well as in parkades from Monday to Saturday.
Additionally, hourly and daily rates experienced a 50 cents per hour increase citywide.
Do you support increasing parking fines instead of raising property taxes?
