Photo by Vince Fedoroff
NO-GO ZONE – The area around the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was closed off for blocks Friday afternoon as the RCMP investigated a suspicious occurence at the bank. This is a view looking south along Second Avenue.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
EVACUATION – The city is considering waiving parking tickets for those who received a ticket shortly after part of the downtown was evacuated Friday. A robot used to investigate the matter is seen above.
Motorists kept from their vehicles get tickets anyway
Parking tickets issued after the reopening of some downtown streets following an evacuation of the area Friday may be waived.
Parking tickets issued after the reopening of some downtown streets following an evacuation of the area Friday may be waived.
It depends on how long it took owners to pick up their vehicles after the streets reopened.
“We will look at what a reasonable time frame is (to retrieve a vehicle),” senior bylaw constable Tom Wyers said in an interview this morning.
Main, Elliott and Steele streets from Third Avenue down to Front Street were closed after a suspicious package was found at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce earlier in the day.
Drivers were unable to get their vehicles.
The streets reopened shortly before 2:30 p.m. after the RCMP explosives disposal unit determined the package was not a threat.
Wyers said this morning only one complaint came into the department over the weekend about a parking ticket being issued in the area that was closed off for part of the afternoon.
He stressed that no tickets were issued during the street closure, with the meter attendant assisting other bylaw officers to barricade the area.
One eyewitness said as soon as the barricades came down, the bylaw officer started writing tickets.
As for how long it was before any tickets were issued after the streets reopened and whether it was enough time for those parked to get back to the area and their vehicle, Wyers said that’s something the department still has to look into.
He noted the meter attendant who worked Friday is not set to be back to work until tomorrow.
However, officers will look into it to determine what amount of time would be reasonable for drivers to recover their vehicles following the evacuation.
Officials may then decide to waive any tickets that were issued within that period.
Wyers said the city will need more time to look at the matter before it’s decided whether any tickets will be waived.
Parking tickets for in the city carry a $10 fine if paid within 24 hours or a $25 fine if paid after the initial 24-hour period.
Those who wish to challenge a parking ticket may do so through the court system.
See related story.
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Comments (22)
Up 5 Down 0
Darryl on Feb 11, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Read the MVA Mark. Although I don't think tickets should have been issued in the first place. I think it's a lack of common sense on that one individuals part, but hopefully something that won't happen again.
Up 25 Down 1
leave parked cars alone on Feb 10, 2016 at 9:58 am
If Bylaw Officers are so eager to give out tickets, why don't they patrol for the people driving like jerks and are on their cell phones? They would probably make WAY more money then people spending a little longer in stores (and probably spending more money and helping our economy). As it is right now, I guess it's easier to ticket something that can't talk back to you.
Up 39 Down 5
Anonymous on Feb 9, 2016 at 6:50 pm
Ludicrous- Although I do appreciate your sentiments, please do not blanket all government workers in the same bundle. I am a mother who is the sole provider for my family. I work hard at my job and could never ever leave my job to do an errand. I know people like to bash "government workers" but how dare you say that we are all "rich" and do not work. It is an ignorant stereotype and not worthy of a second look. I feel tickets should be waived for all these poor, unsuspecting people that could not have access to cars that day.
Up 15 Down 6
Mark Ackerman on Feb 9, 2016 at 5:26 pm
And you wonder why nobody respects bylaw minions! Bylaw traffic enforcement is a joke. In all reality, they have no authority at all with the motor vehicle act. We have the real police the RCMP for that.
My hat goes off to Mayor Dan Curtis for his fast response to correct this blunder by overzealous meter maids. This casts a major cloud over the bylaw departments head with this kind of poor judgement. Like a real policeman, bylaw officers have the option whether to ticket or not. And as for the meter maid who said what can only be described as a "patronizing" statement, to my wife that day....you should count your lucky stars that I was not there to witness that behavior you displayed, because the RCMP would have been called to stop what would have taken place after that statement was made to her.
My final statement is this, bylaw officers had better realize that they are nothing more than city employees and your actions also reflect the many awesome city employees that we have. You, like a policeman are in the public eye, and your professionalism is rightfully noted.
Up 21 Down 2
Lost in the Yukon on Feb 9, 2016 at 2:06 pm
Dearest Spinspiel ... who do you think that all the departments within the City report to? Who sits between the Mayor and the bureaucrats and whose sole purpose is to provide direction to the public service and shield the elected officials from crap like this? It's the person making $190,000.00 a year ... so yah, the buck on this stops with them.
Up 68 Down 1
PMO on Feb 9, 2016 at 12:54 pm
The Bylaw officers were obviously not using common sense that day.
Up 32 Down 0
Guncache on Feb 9, 2016 at 10:42 am
The bylaw department has turned into a money generating monster. The bylaw officer downtown has been told to strictly write parking meter fines and ignore everything else. They want the officer to push for 100 tickets and don't bother with other parking infractions. In years gone by there were two officers downtown. One would do meters and other parking offenses including crossing the centre line to park. That offense is rampant and not enforced anymore. The other officer did two hour zones, and other parking infractions. Both officers had a good rapport with downtown businesses. Strictly a money grab now. They used to keep side streets clear of derelict parked vehicles but that has gone by the way side now. I see vehicles parked on the street that have bare pavement underneath. PUSH those meter tickets officer. They won't ticket a marked RCMP vehicle but will ticket other government agencies. There is no provision in the traffic bylaw not to ticket the RCMP. A bylaw officer told me his superior told him not to ticket RCMP but to ticket all other types of enforcement vehicles.
Up 45 Down 0
Yukoner on Feb 9, 2016 at 8:15 am
So if you want to challenge this you will have to take time off work and go to court. The City of Whitehorse just keeps getting worse. Come on, wave all tickets that day for the section that was closed and give bylaw sh$%.
Up 40 Down 0
Say what? on Feb 9, 2016 at 7:02 am
Perhaps a lot of these people had to get rides to come back and get their vehicles, and might not have been possible to do so right away. C'mon City of Whitehorse - you're not that destitute.
Up 37 Down 1
Martin on Feb 8, 2016 at 11:19 pm
This is typical of COW; beating on the poor, unprotected ratepayer..... ?What? ...?It is supposed he/she has to be "there" the minute after access was allowed? Come on!
Up 35 Down 6
ludicrous on Feb 8, 2016 at 7:55 pm
This is ridiculous!!!! honestly when will city and government stop making themselves look silly!! Not everyone works for city or government and can just leave their job to run an errand!!! Common sense you people-common sense!!! There really isn't a quota-is there.???....what is next!
Up 78 Down 3
Marla Ackerman on Feb 8, 2016 at 7:07 pm
I'm still livid on its principle!
The downtown core of Whitehorse was evacuated early this afternoon due to a mysterious package at the CIBC lobby at 7:30 am. Police were notified, streets were evacuated and bomb squad was brought in with the aid of the robot. Streets were blocked off. As it turned out, the mysterious package posed no threat to the public.
One vehicle remained parked in front of Shoppers on our side of the street. As the barricades were being removed, one bylaw person moved in to place a parking ticket on the vehicle parked at Shoppers. I'm sure the driver wouldn't even know yet that the evacuation was lifted. My internal response was anger. WTF!! Dude really put a f**king ticket under his/her wiper!! One would feel in this case of total street evacuation he would overlook the time had ran out on the meter!
The man was now outside of my work and I had to get my curiosity answered. "Did you actually give them a ticket for being parked there when the city of Whitehorse's downtown core is evacuated and the barricades are still being removed?? He said they could have easily removed their vehicle because the barricades were not on the upper side of 2nd Ave and Main Street and that they were only barricaded on the lower side of 2nd Ave between CIBC and BMO. I told him everyone had to remove themselves away from the CIBC towards RBC and probably weren't allowed to get their vehicle. D**khead leaned down to me and said "You're right, You're always right" WTF?? I told him I understand laws are laws but in this case of evacuation was it really necessary to give a ticket to someone? (Or is it because I'm female and dude felt it necessary to lean down to me and say that to me??) Is The City of Whitehorse that broke that it had to make $25 because of the $ loss for the time of the evacuation?? Really??
I don't even drive and choose not to have a drivers licence and felt bad for the person who got the ticket. Tickets are $25 and $10 if you pay it that day. City Hall was within the barricaded blocks and most likely let their workers go home and closed, so poor ticketed person would likely have to pay the full $25 on Monday! I truly hope they dispute the ticket given to them under the circumstance! I'm wondering is Whitehorse bylaw this beastly or is this a**hole acting on his own??
Up 49 Down 0
Yukoner on Feb 8, 2016 at 5:19 pm
I saw bylaw issuing tickets while they were moving the barricades. It was without a doubt unfair.
Up 46 Down 0
Silly on Feb 8, 2016 at 4:59 pm
My ticket was written for 2:29 pm and the road blocks came up at just before 2:30pm...
Up 13 Down 41
Spinspiel on Feb 8, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Lost In Yukon: What the blazes does this have to do with the City Manager - It's Bylaw. Maybe Lost in Yukon has a hidden blame agenda.
Up 41 Down 1
Confused on Feb 8, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Do they get paid by each ticket they write? You'd think so by watching them stand beside meters, waiting for the second they expire.
Up 42 Down 1
Jack Colby on Feb 8, 2016 at 4:20 pm
My taxes are paying to employ people like this ?
YEESH !
Up 28 Down 1
Alan Miner on Feb 8, 2016 at 4:17 pm
It would be nice to forgive all tickets in that area for the day.
Its too easy to cause ill feelings.
Up 23 Down 1
ProScience Greenie on Feb 8, 2016 at 4:17 pm
Shows that the pressure is on the bylaw workers to keep the coffers of city hall full.
Up 26 Down 0
Private Sector worker on Feb 8, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Just when you thought City Hall could not get any more petty-minded and pathetic, they go and outdo themselves once again. The amazing thing is, that people actually applied, voluntarily, to work at this bureaucratic mess of an administration.
Up 158 Down 4
Lost in the Yukon on Feb 8, 2016 at 3:50 pm
Do you believe it!? Does the City Manager not have any common sense, she could fix this in 2 minutes if she did. What you see is someone trying to save face.
Up 161 Down 3
ridiculous on Feb 8, 2016 at 3:23 pm
This is crazy! Let's say you only had 30 minutes for lunch and you have a schedule that does not permit you leave again until later (when work is over)... Kind of dense on bylaws part...