A handful of Grande Prairie residents woke up Dec.17 morning to tickets on their vehicles for not removing them off city street for 8 a.m. snow removal. The problem residents say – the tickets were issued before the 8 a.m. deadline to move vehicles, they also contained no times or locations of the parking infractions. Read MoreBy mid-morning some of the vehicle owners had paid their tickets, others had received texts from the city rescinding the fines.
By mid-morning some of the vehicle owners had paid their tickets, others had received texts from the city rescinding the fines.
A handful of Grande Prairie residents woke up Dec.17 morning to tickets on their vehicles for not removing them off city street for 8 a.m. snow removal. The problem residents say – the tickets were issued before the 8 a.m. deadline to move vehicles, they also contained no times or locations of the parking infractions.
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“The tow truck was circling our block, people running out of their houses in their pajamas Tuesday morning to their cars,” said Karen Williams Tuesday. Williams says it was a strange scene to watch tickets being handed out before 8 a.m. in the 72nd Ave., 88A St. area of the city.
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Williams noted her ticket, she says was issued before 8 a.m., was also missing some key information.
“The ticket on my car didn’t have any time at all filled in,” she said. The Daily Herald Tribune notes there is no location, nor any address noted on the infraction and Williams’ parking ticket.
Williams’ neighbour had a ticket issued at 7:42 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“We receive texts noting there is snow removal to be done the next day, so I headed out and saw a ticket on my car before 8 a.m., issued at 7:42 am.”
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City of Grande Prairie officials said Tuesday the time of the parking ban depends on which roads they are parked on, as the parking ban for priority roads is in effect starting at 7 a.m. with a residential road ban is not in effect until 8 a.m.
“These parking bans are in effect to help ensure smooth and efficient snow removal to keep our residents safely connected during this winter weather,” said Blair Wade with City of Grande Prairie communications on Tuesday.
By mid morning – some of the vehicle owners had paid their tickets, others had received texts from the city rescinding the fines. One ticketed resident said their appeared no clear way or avenue to dispute the ticket or fine – just to pay them.
“They were also threatening to tow, before 8 a.m. How expensive is that? There is no time of the infraction, no location of it, priority road or not.”
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Wade said residents should contact Enforcement Services for more details.
“We cannot comment on specific tickets, my best recommendation is for these individuals to connect with Enforcement Services at 311 for more details,” he said. Residents can find more information from the city at with daily service updates: https://cityofgp.com/city-services/more-services/service-updates
Wade notes Cityofgp.com/snow features a map of residential roads and priority roads, and a text message sign up for alerts.
A rotating banner on the top of the City of Grande Prairie website is available when parking bans and residential snow clearing has been activated by the municipality,
The City of Grande Prairie’s residential snow plowing program is a contracted service that occurs in two-week rotations, only when declared by the city.
When snowfall reaches 10 cm, the city declares residential clearing for all neighbourhoods. Crews then complete a two-week rotation, clearing neighbourhoods in a Week A then Week B cycle: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 2-week rotations.
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