Fines for fighting on Vancouver streets could double Tuesday

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A Vancouver councillor hopes to deter people fighting on downtown streets by doubling the fine the city can charge those who are caught.

Melissa De Genova wants to increase the fine to $1,000 from $500, the maximum allowed amount set out in the Vancouver Charter.

It’s one of the recommendations council will consider on Tuesday.

“Staff will present to council the recommendations that they have come back with to increase and collect fines relating to fighting and disorder in the Granville Entertainment District,” De Genova says. “In light of some of the recent concerns about the Granville Entertainment District and the atmosphere there, in the goal of making it a more family friendly environment and a place where people feel safe and that they can enjoy night life in our city.”

The recommendations were drafted in response to a motion she brought forward last year.

She notes Vancouver’s ability to hand out tickets for fighting is unique in the Lower Mainlaind.

She says until now, there was no way for the city to follow up and ensure payment of city fines for fighting.

“The City of Vancouver, before this, did not have a policy a way forward for how they would collect on these fines,” she explains, adding the report recommends unpaid fines be sent to a collection agency.

Another recommendation, meant to increase the number of fines paid, is that the amount be cut in half if paid within 30 days.

Even though the tickets are generally given by police, the payment of the fines is separate from any criminal investigation or proceeding related to fighting.

De Genova says the safety on city streets remains the goal of recommended changes to how fines are levied and collected.

“I’m also hoping that really, this will deter this behaviour, and there will be less fines to give out because the fines are stricter and there is a way that these would go into collections.”

De Genova says she is in favour of all of the recommendations being put forward by city staff on Tuesday.

The Vancouver Police Department was consulted by the city and supports staff’s recommendations.

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