Winnipegger ticketed twice calls city out for tricky parking sign

A Winnipeg woman is fed up with the parking signage on her street in St. Boniface after receivingtwo parking tickets for separate offences.

"When I'm [parked] right beside the [parking] sign, I've gotten a ticket for parking within three metres of a crosswalk," said Raini Barrett.

"When I backed up and didn't park within three metres of the crosswalk, I got another ticket for being within an intersection, even though the sign is so clear that you're allowed to park on either side of the sign."

The sign is placed near the intersection of Bertrand Avenue and De La Morenie Street. Itis three metres from the dip in the curb that indicates a crosswalk, but the parking sign has arrows pointingin both directions,indicating that drivers can park on either side of the sign.

If drivers park ahead of the sign, they can be ticketed for being too close to a crosswalk. If drivers park behind the sign, they can be ticketed for parking in an intersection.

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"It is misleading and I feel like I'm being tricked. I think a whole bunch of people are being tricked," said Barrett.

"The sign so clearly says that you can park there, but then you get ticketed for doing so."

Barrett, who livesnear the intersection, said she hasseen about a dozen tickets issued therein the past month alone

"Just this morning,someone had a ticket for parking within three metres of a crosswalk," she said Tuesday.

While CBC Newswas in the area, Emery De Roo parked his pickup truck near the parking sign. He was careful not to park it too close to the crosswalk, as he had received a ticket forthat in the past.

No matter what you do, you're going to get a ticket.- RainiBarrett

De Roo said he had been parking farther back to avoid the crosswalk, not knowing he could get a ticket for parking in the intersection.

"I've been parking here for a little while so it would be a bit of a wake-up if I got a ticket one day. I'd definitely be mad about it," he said.

"It wouldbe nicer if a lot of the streets were marked better for where you can and can't park. I'm sure there'd be less fines because of it."

City open to reporting of improper signs

The City of Winnipeg saysdrivers can call 311 if they have concerns about improper signage, which the citymay reviewto ensure it is meeting signage standards.

As well, parking enforcement officers are instructed to report situations where signage may be damagedormissing.

As for deciding how and where the signs areplaced, the citysays it follows the requirements outlined by provincial regulations set out in the Highway Traffic Actunder the Traffic Control Devices Order.

Barrett says she's never called 311 to complain about the signage and she doesn't think the city would do anything about it.

"I'm still waiting regarding some of my other calls I have with the city," Barrett said."To me, I get discouraged when I have to wait like nine months to hear from them."

Barrett saidshe paid the fine for one of hertickets but has plans tofight the other one. That ticket was issued in September2015 and her court date is set forApril2017 a wait time that Barrett calls "absurd."

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She saidmost people likely just pay the fine and don't go to the trouble of fighting it.

"It's a pain in the butt to have to take time off work to go down and fight the ticket, so I think most people pay and it's probably a big money grab for the city," she said.

Barrett saidwhile she hopes the signage gets changed, she wouldlike to see the city reimburse people whohave paid these tickets. She wants people to speak out in hopes that the city willnotice.

"I'm hoping that neighbours and community members everywhere will start talking about it," she said."If we speak, then maybe we will be heard."