Parking fine increase recommended to Kitchener committee
Posted Jun 2, 2025 05:01:40 AM.
Last Updated Jun 2, 2025 03:00:32 PM.
A long overdue increase in the price of parking fines in the City of Kitchener is being recommended to a committee.
City staff are recommending that most parking fines in the municipality be increased by $10 each, the first increase in the city since 2008.
Five violations that have a safety component are also being recommended to receive higher penalties, including for school zones, fire routes, fire hydrants, snow events and accessible parking.
According to a staff report, the number of bylaw complaints in relation to parking violations have increased year over year since 2017, resulting in more staff being needed. Last year, there were 17,162 complaints with 67,191 tickets being issued.
They also note that the “majority of Kitchener’s fines are lower than the other three municipalities.”
The report says that city staff believe the increase in fines, along with other strategies, like technology, will stop the rise in complaints.
“Staff do anticipate that higher fines may lead to increased revenue, however the intent of increased fines is to deter behaviour,” reads the report. “It is difficult to predict the increase or how long it may be sustained, staff did see a decrease in the number of tickets issued in 2008 after fines were increased which impacted the annual fine revenue and foresee a similar response.”
The Community and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting will be meeting on Monday night at 7 p.m.
