Winnipeg eyes more parking tickets to boost revenue

Winnipeg motorists could be seeing more parking tickets on their windshields, as the city wants to make $200,000 more in parking enforcement money this year.

The City of Winnipeg's revenue from parking fines has climbed by 25 per cent since 2009, when it was $6.2 million.

This year, the city is projecting $8.3 million in parking enforcement revenue, about $200,000 more than it made in 2012.

"It's probably a good thing for the city's coffers," said Len Eastoe, whose company helps motorists fight traffic tickets.

"We all want people, if they're responsible for a fine, to pay it."

The city has been making more money by cracking down on drivers who are late in paying their fines, which have recently increased from $40 to $60, while the discounted fine for drivers who pay early has gone from $20 to $30.

As well, bylaw officers have been combing more residential streets in search of parking offenders.

Suzanne Bagnall, who works downtown, said she is terrified of parking there because she has found the dreaded yellow envelope under her windshield wiper five times in the past two years.

"It's a money grab," she said.

"They want people to come downtown and make it more of a tourist attraction. No one wants to."