Kurt Dorward calls it a goldmine for the Winnipeg Parking Authority, and he’s not happy about it.
The River Height’s resident woke up to find $100 tickets on his car and van, for parking on a snow route, even though there is now snow on the street.
“There's more snow in my yard than there is on the road. I don't think they'll be needing the plow for a while," said Dorward.
He’s not alone. The annual snow route parking ban began overnight Friday morning. The city issued 309 tickets and 15 warnings.
The city says there might not be snow now, but with Winnipeg's unpredictable weather, freezing rain or a sudden snowfall could happen at any moment, so plowing and salting crews need to clear the way immediately in case emergency vehicles need access.
Coun. Matt Allard sympathizes with drivers who received a fine, but said in order to plow streets properly during the winter on key road ways, drivers have to move their vehicles.
"I do think it's important to have some consequences, otherwise I don't know that people would get the message in the same way," said Allard.
Kurt Dorward knows he was in violation. Still, he plans to fight his ticket.
“There's the letter of the law and the spirit of the law and this is one of those situations where there's no need for handing out a ticket," said Dorward.
The annual snow route parking ban is in effect 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. from Dec. 1 to March 1.
