Latest news with #BylawServices
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa's new system for dealing with parking ticket disputes now in effect
A parking ticket is seen on the windshield of a car in Ottawa, Ont. (CTV News Ottawa) Ottawa motorists no longer have to go to court to fight a parking ticket, as the city launches a new system to deal with ticket disputes. The City of Ottawa's new administrative penalty system launched Wednesday morning to manage and adjudicate parking ticket infractions. As of June 4, if you receive a parking ticket from Bylaw Services, the infraction will be administered through the new administrative penalty system. Under the system, drivers who receive a parking ticket can either pay the fine or request a review by the screening officer hired by the City of Ottawa. Following the decision by the screening officer, the offender can request a review by a hearing officer. Motorists will not have to go to the Provincial Offences Act court to challenge a parking ticket issued by Bylaw Services officers. Meantime, tickets issued on or before June 3 will be processed through the Provincial Offences Act court. The city says with the shift to an automated penalty system, it has made improvements to the process of applying for and renewing most on-street parking permits. You can visit to see if the permit you wish to apply for is affected by the change. CTV News Ottawa looks at what you need to know about the administrative penalty system. The city plans to expand the administrative penalty system to red light camera and photo radar camera tickets in the future. What is the administrative penalty system? The City of Ottawa says the administrative penalty system (APS) changes how 'certain bylaw violations are handled.' 'APS allows the City to manage the ticket review process independently without relying on the Provincial Offences Court.' What is the difference between the administrative penalty system and the Provincial Offences Act? Under the current Provincial Offences Act, parking, red light camera and photo radar camera tickets are handled in provincial courts. Provincial judges and staff manage the dispute process, and the city says there are 'long wait times' for ticket reviews. Under the APS, tickets will be handled by screening officers and hearing officers employed by the City of Ottawa. The city says the new system will be 'faster' and offer 'more flexible scheduling.' According to the city, the administrative penalty system will reduce the delays in the provincial court system, speed up ticket reviews and 'free up provincial court time for serious cases.' A city report last year said the new administrative penalty system will see disputes over tickets heard within a few weeks or months and lower municipal costs by 35 per cent. How does the system work? When you receive a parking ticket, you will have two options under the administrative penalty system. Pay the ticket online, by mail or at any Client Service Centre or Administrative Penalty System Service Centre Request a review of the ticket. Within 15 days of the ticket being issued, the vehicle owner can request a review with a city screening officer by completing a request form. When you submit a request for review with a city screening officer, the city says you should provide a written explanation and supporting documentation to demonstrate that either the offence was not committed or 'they are experiencing undue hardship.' Screening Review The screening review will be conducted by screening officers employed by the City of Ottawa. '(They) have been carefully trained to conduct the 'screening' review of the penalty by following standardized, consistent, and pre-established criteria in keeping with the bylaw that governs the APS program,' the city says. The screening officer has the authority to uphold, reduce, extend the time to pay the ticket, or cancel the penalty. 'This decision will be informed by the backup documentation from both the vehicle owner and the Parking Enforcement Officer,' the city says. Final review by a hearing officer The city says if a vehicle owner disagrees with the decision by the screening officer, they may request a final review with a hearing officer, who is appointed by council. The hearing officer will have 'previous experience' in the field of law, adjudication and/or in the interpretation and application of legislation, the city says. A request for a final review by a hearing officer must be submitted with 15 days of the initial screening review's decision date. 'An in-person hearing date and time will be issued to the vehicle owner,' the city says on its website. 'The hearing officer's decision to either uphold the penalty, reduce the penalty, extend the time to pay the penalty, or cancel the penalty is final. Neither the ticket holder nor the city can appeal the decision.' An in-person hearing will be held at the Provincial Offences Act and Administrative Penalty System Service Centre at the Mary Pitt Centre on Constellation Drive.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Thousands of drivers ticketed for parking infractions in ByWard Market area so far this year
Parking signs on ByWard Market Square in the ByWard Market. Statistics show 991 parking tickets have been issued on the road so far in 2025. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa) Bylaw Services officers are issuing dozens of tickets a day to vehicles violating parking rules in Ottawa's ByWard Market area, with York Street and George Street the hot spots for parking violations. Some business owners and residents have raised concerns about bylaw enforcement in the popular tourist destination, including targeting delivery drivers dropping off food and packages to restaurants. Statistics provided to CTV News Ottawa show 9,225 parking tickets were issued on ByWard Market Square, Clarence Street, George Street, Murray Street, St. Patrick Street and York Street between Jan. 1 and June 2. The city notes the data for the number of tickets issued is for each street 'in its entirety,' with Clarence Street, Murray Street, St. Patrick Street and York Street extending east of King Edward Avenue into Lowertown. A total of 25,837 tickets were issued on the streets in all of 2023, while 30,681 parking tickets were issued on the streets in 2024. York Street is the place drivers are most likely to get a parking ticket in the ByWard Market area, with 3,654 parking tickets issued so far this year. Bylaw Services officers have issued 2,297 parking tickets to vehicles on George Street and 1,256 parking tickets to drivers on Clarence Street. A total of 991 parking tickets have been issued in the first five months of the year to vehicles illegally parked on ByWard Market Square, the two-block road between George Street and Clarence Street that's next to the ByWard Market building. York Street York Street is the hot spot for parking tickets in Ottawa's ByWard Market. Statistics show 3,654 parking tickets have been issued on York Street so far in 2025. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa) The director of Bylaw Services says parking control officers 'proactively and regularly address' parking issues in the ByWard Market. 'The ByWard Market is an important destination for residents and tourists alike. Parking enforcement is conducted to address the safety and mobility of traffic, as well as to ensure business remains accessible for everyone,' Roger Chapman, director of Bylaw Services, said in a statement. 'Due to the density of the ByWard Market and the competitive nature of parking, parking control officers proactively and regularly address issues of misuse of parking spaces throughout the week, and especially during peak times when the market is busiest.' Drivers must pay to park at parking meters in the ByWard Market area between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Parking at on-street meters in the market area is free on Sundays, but motorists must follow the two-hour time limits. In September, the City of Ottawa will be extending paid parking in the ByWard Market and Little Italy area to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. A staff proposal to charge for on-street parking on Sundays was rejected by the public works and infrastructure committee. Here is a look at parking tickets issued to vehicles in the ByWard Market area in 2023, 2024 and 2025. 2025 – (Jan. 1 to June 2) Total: 9,226 tickets ByWard Market Square: 991 tickets Clarence Street: 1,256 tickets George Street: 2,297 tickets Murray Street: 957 tickets St. Patrick Street: 70 tickets York Street: 3,654 tickets 2024 – Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 Total: 30,681 tickets ByWard Market Square: 3,117 tickets Clarence Street: 4,828 tickets George Street: 8,828 tickets Murray Street: 2,952 tickets St. Patrick Street: 300 tickets York Street:10,656 tickets 2023 – Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 Total: 25,837 tickets
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Thousands of ‘obstructed' licence plates captured by Ottawa's red light, photo radar cameras
Thousands of Ottawa motorists have escaped potential tickets for photo radar and red-light camera infractions due to hidden, damaged and dirty licence plates, costing the City of Ottawa millions of dollars in lost fine revenue. Tickets for red light and photo radar camera infractions are issued to the registered plate owner of the vehicle after an officer views the evidence. Statistics provided to CTV News Ottawa show 15,480 vehicles with damaged, obstructed or missing licence plates were captured by Ottawa's automated speed enforcement cameras in the first three months of this year. A total of 71,238 speeders caught by the photo radar cameras in 2024 were rejected due to unreadable plates, while 52,851 vehicles captured by the cameras in 2023 had damaged, obstructed or missing plates. 'The total number of these instances represent a small number of cases overall,' Roger Chapman, Director of Bylaw and Regulatory Services, said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. 'For example, the number of incidents captured by automated speed enforcement cameras involving vehicles with damaged or obstructed plates or missing plates represents about 13 per cent of the total incidents captured per year.' A total of 1,502 vehicles caught running red lights by Ottawa's red-light cameras between January and April had damaged, obstructed or missing licence plates. In 2023 and 2024, a total of 8,006 vehicles caught by Ottawa's red-light cameras had obstructed licence plates. 'It is important to note that incidents captured by a camera are not automatically tickets,' Chapman said. 'The evidence must first be substantiated by an officer, following which a Notice of Offence is issued.' A report for the finance and corporate services committee meeting on June 3 says there was a $1.5 million deficit in the Traffic Service department through the first three months of the year 'primarily due' to lower-than anticipated revenues from photo radar cameras. Staff said inclement weather and changes in driver behaviour resulted in lower revenue from photo radar tickets, but covered or damaged licence plates resulted in potentially 15,480 speeding tickets not issued in the January to March period. Under Section 13 of the Highway Traffic Act, drivers are required to ensure their licence plates are unobstructed, properly mounted, and clearly visible to officers and enforcement technology. The fine for an obscured licence plate is $110. The Ottawa Police Service said in February that it regularly conducts enforcement targeting improper or obstructed licence plates, but notes some drivers deliberately obscure or alter their plate to avoid photo radar or red-light cameras, 'making enforcement more complex.' In a report for the Ottawa Police Services Board meeting on Feb. 24, Chief Eric Stubbs said another challenge is resource allocation, noting officers must balance enforcement of plate visibility with other traffic enforcement priorities, like speeding and aggressive driving. 'While significant progress has been made, the high number of unreadable plates remains a concern, particularly in relation to the effectiveness of ASE cameras and broader road safety objectives,' Stubbs said in the report for the February board meeting. 'OPS will continue to support the City of Ottawa's initiatives by enforcing license plate regulations and exploring opportunities for enhanced collaboration in addressing this issue.'
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Hundreds of drivers fined for illegally parking in accessible parking spaces in Ottawa
Bylaw Services shared a photo of a Porsche parked illegally in an accessible parking space in Ottawa this week. Nearly $900,000 worth of fines has been handed out so far this year to drivers parking illegally in accessible parking spaces across Ottawa. Bylaw Services shared a photo of a Porsche parked illegally in an accessible parking space in Ottawa this week. 'When you misuse an accessible parking space you make our community less inclusive,' Bylaw Services said in a post on X. 'We all play a role in making our community kinder and better. Leave accessible parking spaces free for those who require them.' In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Bylaw and Regulatory Services (BLRS) director Roger Chapman said 1,798 tickets have been issued since Jan. 1 to vehicles parked in accessible parking spaces without a permit. 'Accessible parking spaces are reserved to support the mobility and independence of individuals with disabilities. BLRS remains committed to enforcing these regulations to ensure equitable access for those who need it most,' Chapman said. 'BLRS reminds all motorists that only vehicles displaying a valid accessible parking permit are allowed to use designated accessible parking spaces.' The fine for parking illegally in an accessible parking permit is $500. In 2024, officers issued 3,193 tickets to vehicles parked in an accessible parking space without a valid permit. Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 5, 2024, officers issued 490 tickets to vehicles parked in accessible parking spaces.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Alcoholic beverages will be allowed in select Ottawa parks this summer
Alcohol could be allowed in some Ottawa parks this summer Parkgoers could be able to enjoy a cold alcoholic beverage in Ottawa's parks this summer, with councillors and residents choosing the parks where beer, wine and coolers can be enjoyed. Councillors on the community services committee approved a pilot project to allow alcohol consumption in designated areas of parks selected by councillors. An amendment, presented by Coun. Ariel Troster Tuesday morning, said the councillor in each ward will work 'in consultation with the (Public Works) general manager and their communities to identify eligible parks and decide on designating them, or not, to permit personal consumption of alcohol.' The current bylaw prohibits alcoholic beverages in a park, except at events with a park rental permit and a special occasion permit. If approved by council, alcoholic beverages will be allowed in select parks between July 1 and Oct. 31. Under the plan, alcohol will not be allowed to be consumed at beaches, sports fields and around playground equipment. The rules for alcohol in parks include: No alcohol consumption before 11 a.m. and after 9 p.m. or hours designated by the general manager. No person shall possess or consume alcohol within a five-metre radius of a playground or playground equipment, wading pools or splash pads or outdoor pools, beaches, parking lots, natural or artificial ice ranks, and at sports fields, sports courts and ball diamonds. Bylaw Services director Roger Chapman says a 'robust' summer student program will have 20 student bylaw officers assigned to parks for proactive enforcement. 'The proactive enforcement in the parks is really driven by complaints,' Chapman told the committee. 'We keep a list of parks where we're getting significant complaints for and that's where we really focus our enforcement.' Chapman says Bylaw Services is not anticipating an increase in complaints about alcohol in parks. The city received 42 calls for open alcohol and drinking in parks in 2024, with 10 tickets issued under the Parks and Facilities Bylaw. Troster says she wants the city to make sure other park users can access the park. 'As long as people properly dispose of their cans and are not acting in a way that is harmful to others, I really don't care what they're consuming,' Troster said. 'I'm happy to see this to come forward as a pilot. I want to ensure my residents I'm not going to choose Dundonald Park as a site for this pilot, although people are, absolutely, consuming alcohol there and I think we should be clear about the fact that this is bylaw that is largely not being enforced unless there are other factors involved.' Both the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and Ottawa Public Health have raised health, safety and security concerns about allowing alcohol consumption in parks.
