Downtown BRZ says businesses not happy with potential parking fine increase

Lethbridge City Council was slated to give second and third reading on Tuesday for a potential increase to parking fines in our city’s downtown. If the fines are raised the price for not paying for parking will increase from $25-$50. If you pay within a week you will receive $15 off of the fine.

Sarah Amies, the executive director of the Downtown BRZ says the reaction of a potential parking fine increase from the hundreds of business owners in downtown Lethbridge has been of dismay and frustration.

“By increasing these fines from $25-$50 is really going to dissuade folks from coming downtown. If there’s a choice of shopping or services, either in the downtown or elsewhere in the city where free parking is offered, people are going to go to those areas where there is free parking. This just seems to be yet another obstacle that the downtown businesses and services are going to have to surmount.”

The item will be referred to the February 15th Economic SPC meeting for the public to be heard.