Are you paying too little when the City of Parksville catches you contravening one of its bylaws? City council thinks so.
Parksville council is set to update its municipal ticket information bylaw. The move was sparked when staff looked at fines for a new bylaw prohibiting deer feeding and saw that many fines seemed low.
Before the update the highest fine is $1,000 for cutting down a protected tree without a permit, while other infractions, particularly involving health and safety, could be considered equally, if not more serious, the report said.
The new bylaw increases many fines by double or more including things like possessing liquor in a park from $100 to $150, failure to clear a fire hazard from $100 to $200, damage to park property from $100 to $250 and the biggest increase, discharge of explosives or starting a fire in a park from $100 to $500.
It also adds a new $500 fine for obstructing a city employee or officer.
The bylaws will go back to council for final approval at their next meeting.