Hefty increases in illegal parking fines now in effect in Sudbury

Parking illegally in Sudbury could hurt your bottom line this year, as steep increases in some fines are now in effect.

The co-ordinator of compliance and enforcement with the city said a ticket for overnight winter parking, or parking in a fire route is going from $40 to $75. The fine for parking in a designated accessible space is rising from $300 to $350. Darlene Barker said the increases are meant to make drivers think twice.

"I would just stress the importance of public safety and hopefully the increase in fines will deter people."

Barker said she can't estimate how much more revenue will be gained by hiking fines.

"It's really difficult to estimate anincrease, based on fines, until we can see a trend or have an experience over the next couple of years," she said.

In 2014, the city earned $670,000 she noted.