Moncton councillors want control over what parking boot companies charge you

Moncton Coun. Greg Turner wants changes to the Municipalities Act that would pave the way for parking boot companies to be regulated by the city, similar to taxi companies.

The use of boots by many private lots in downtown Moncton has been controversial, and Mayor Dawn Arnold said booting would be one of her top priorities when she was elected in May.

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Turner and Coun. Bryan Butler recently completed a special report on the practice of booting vehicles and will present their recommendations at the next meeting of Moncton council.

Turner told Information Morning Monctonthere was a "firestorm brewing" around the booting issue this summer, when he and Butler started their research into the operation of booting companies and the way they are controlled.

"We're looking at both aspects and ... the negative backlash that comes with this type of operation in the community," Turner said.

A number of downtown parking lot owners employ companies to monitor their lots, and place a boot on any car illegally parked.

$100 charge to remove boot

Drivers have to pay the fine, which is normally about$100, before the booting device is removed.

After speaking with the owners of private parking lots, the booting company and citizens who had been booted, Turner saidhe and Butler have come up with recommendations.

"Quite frankly ... the company operates legally within the rules that we have today in our province," Turner said of the booting company.

"Unfortunately, the Municipalities Act does not give the city a mandate actually to regulate a company like this."

Turner is "encouraging" the province to make changes to the Municipalities Act to allow Moncton to regulate booting.

Looking for standards

"For instance, there's no regulations regarding what their fees are. It's really up to what the market will bear, so we want to see some standardization put into their business operation."

Turner says his fingers are crossed that changes will be made at the provincial level, but in the meantime the City of Monctonand Downtown Moncton Inc. willcontinue to improve signage warning people they could be booted in particular lots, and promoting parking instead at City of Moncton parking lots.

Street parking at meters on weekends and after 6 p.m. during the weekis free in Moncton, and many city-owned parking lots and parking garages are free on Saturday and Sunday until 6 p.m.

"You can actually park in a garage in downtown Monctonin the middle of the winter for free during the day on Saturday if you want to go to the market and again on Sunday if you wanted to visit the restaurants and shops and boutiques."