The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Motorists who unlawfully leave their vehicles in restricted parking spots on Hapnot Street stand to face much heftier fines. Flin Flon City Council on Tuesday passed the first reading of a motion to up the restricted area parking fines from $4 to $40 per violation. "If (violators) don't mind paying $4, we'll see whether they like to pay $40," said Councillor Tom Therien. Council's motion is expected to become law after the second and third readings at the next Council meeting on October 7. The motion will affect only the restricted spots on Hapnot Street. The parking spots on the east side of Hapnot Street between the Royal Canadian Legion and the Third Avenue intersection are reserved for residents of the homes on that strip. Those people have been assigned permits to use the spots, as none of those homes have a back alley and most lack a driveway. Councillor Therien said that three signs clearly point out that parking in those spaces is allowed for those with a permit only. Council's motion shows that unauthorized people using those spots "must still be a significant problem," he said. The councillor said he hopes the fine increase will settle the matter and did not rule out making the penalties even stiffer if need be. "If this doesn't work, maybe that's another alternative," he said. "If in fact (the violators) aren't too concerned about paying $40, maybe the idea is to increase the fines to a greater amount. I know that's been bandied about, too." See 'Motion' P.# Con't from P.# Occupants of those homes have complained to the City about the problem on several occasions. If the third reading of the motion passes, and it most certainly will, unauthorized motorists who take up the spots will be given a $40 fine by police. If the fine is not paid within 14 days, the amount due will increase to $50. The current fine amount of $4 goes up to $20 if unpaid after two weeks. News of the pending fine increase was music to the ears of one resident in the restricted parking area. "If people can't read a sign, then there's something wrong," said the resident.
