Indignation is mounting from multiple organizations over the Province’s $15 fee for licence plate look-ups, parking violations and photo-enforcement offences set to take effect Sept. 1.
Some municipalities are preparing to raise mill rates in order to offset the incoming fee, but many are calling for the tax to be nixed entirely.
The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) is against legislating a $15 fee, which would be subsidized on the backs of taxpayers and not offenders.
“This is another burden on municipalities that doesn’t need to be there,” said Bruce Rowe, vice president of villages and summer villages with the AUMA. “With a simple change in the regulations, they (Alberta government) can change this. That $15 fee would be part of the offenders’ payment.”
“We’re not saying the government shouldn’t put this $15 on,” said Rowe. “If Service Alberta needs that money, then fine. But who should be paying it?”
If mill rates rise, everyone living in the community will pay a little into the service, something Rowe, also Beiseker’s Mayor, isn’t pleased with.
Calgary’s Mayor Naheed Nenshi also spoke out against the fee, calling it ridiculous and said it shouldn’t cost $15 for two computers to talk to each other.
Currently, municipalities can change the ticket price if an offender is issued a parking ticket, but not for traffic infractions on the highway.
Edmonton-Glenora MLA Heather Klimchuk brought the $15 fee forward and stood by the decisions. She said it was only a $4 jump from its previous rate of $11.
“Our system has been operating for many years, technology changes and grows,” said Klimchuk. “It operates 24/7 and I’ve never had a system go down. It’s a cost of doing business.”
The charge only applies to delinquent fees, according to Klimchuk, and said as long as everyone pays bills on time there will be no problems.
She said the Sept. 1 start date is beneficial to Alberta counties, which will have additional time to figure out how to adjust to the incoming fee hike.
The fines currently extend to photo radar, red light cameras and parking tickets.
