Winter parking ban changes to be considered
Ban will be in effect from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Halifax Regional Council will consider lifting the city's blanket winter parking ban and only putting it into effect when necessary.
Under the city's current contentious parking ban, drivers are barred from parking on the street in the urban core from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. from December to March.
No matter how bare the roads are, violators face a $50 fine, which increases to $82.96 if the ticket is not paid within 60 days.
During a meeting on Thursday, the Halifax Regional Municipality's transportation committee considered a report that said staff members are prepared to attempt a trial period where the ban only applies during declared snow and ice events.
"It really is going to be incumbent upon the person who's parking on the street to inform themselves. Is there a ban on tonight? Or is there not a ban on?" said Coun. Jennifer Watts, who had been pushing for amendments to the current winter parking ban.
"If you're not watching and not carefully monitoring that, you will get ticketed and also towed."
Ken Reashor, the Halifax Regional Municipality's traffic authority, estimated it will cost the municipality up to $80,000 each season to bring in police officers on their days off to enforce the ban.
He agreed to change the hours of the winter parking ban from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Coun. Jerry Blumenthal said that small change could make a large difference.
"That means a lot of people can feel better going to work, especially nurses, people in the dockyard, navy and so forth," he told CBC News.
The transportation committee voted unanimously on Thursday to move the issue of the amended parking ban to Halifax Regional Council.