Hundreds of parking tickets remain unpaid following 'Freedom Convoy' protest in Ottawa
Hundreds of parking tickets issued in the so-called 'Red Zone' during the "Freedom Convoy" occupation in downtown Ottawa remain unpaid, 16 weeks after police moved in to end the protest.
Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services issued 3,812 parking tickets and 318 Provincial Offence Notices during the three and a half week protest in downtown Ottawa.
The parking tickets issued included violations for parking in no-stopping and no-parking areas, parking in special event areas and parking on private property, while the Provincial Offence Notices were issued for a range of violations including using a sound reproduction device, operating an unlicensed mobile refreshment vehicle and failing to comply with COVID-19 public health orders.
As of Monday, 90 Provincial Offence Notices and 1,600 parking tickets had been paid, according to a report for the Community and Protective Services Committee.
Staff say 15 Provincial Offence Notices and 300 parking tickets are going to trial, while 250 parking tickets have been withdrawn or voided.
"There are a little over 150 Provincial Offence Notices and over 1,200 parking tickets that remain outstanding," the report says.
Staff say the value of the 3,812 parking tickets was $320,000.
A total of 110 vehicles were towed during the protest, with towing costs estimated at $389,500. Staff say the majority of the vehicles were picked up from the tow yards, and $79,600 of the costs recovered.
The price tag for the police and city response to the occupation is now estimated at $37 million. Staff are warning the protest could end up costing the city $10 million, accounting for transit revenue impacts, direct costs to support the occupation and economic recovery benefits offered by the city.
Both the Ottawa Police Service and the City of Ottawa are expected to outline final costs associated with the protest when financial status reports are released this summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air quality alerts issued as wildfire smoke spreads east from Western Canada
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
Ellen DeGeneres addresses the 'hurtful' end of her talk show in new stand-up set
Ellen DeGeneres is reflecting on how her talk show came to an end in her newest Netflix special, 'Ellen's Last Stand ... Up Tour.'
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
LIVE UPDATES Michael Cohen will face a bruising cross-examination by Trump's lawyers at the hush money trial
Donald Trump’s fixer-turned-foe returns to the witness stand Tuesday for a bruising round of questioning from the former president’s lawyers.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Risks of handcuffing someone facedown long known; people die when police training fails to keep up
For decades, police across the United States have been warned that the common tactic of handcuffing someone facedown could turn deadly if officers pin them on the ground with too much pressure or for too long.
A healthy lifestyle can mitigate genetic risk for early death by 62%, study suggests
Even if your genetics put you at greater risk for early death, a healthy lifestyle could help you significantly combat it, according to a new study.
Sunchips, Munchies recalled by Frito Lay Canada for possible salmonella contamination
Frito Lay Canada is recalling two of its most popular snacks due to a possible risk of salmonella contamination.