These guys are unbelievable

[impalator]

Hi there,

Sorry, I am going to have to rant for a bit here....

I live in North Vancouver between Chesterfield and Lonsdale Ave on Keith Road. I park my Van on the street all the time because the parkade of my building is about 3 inches too low for the Deli.

Now get this: In the past two months alone I got two warnings and just on Friday past week an actual ticket, claiming that I "infringed on Bylaw 6234 Street and Traffic - parking for more than 72 hours without moving the vehicle ($ 25.00)

Of course I called the bylaw department of North Vancouver to complain and was told the following:

We have a system by which we can track if a vehicle is moved or not without marking tires etc.

Anyway: They told me that I had to pay as it was proven by their system that the vehicle hadn't been moved.

I replied that the reason the vehicle isn't moved is that I actually try to be a good commuter who rides his bicycle to work and that my parked van actually resulted in less burned fuel and cleaner air and that this is exactly in line with the city's attempt to get people to use public transit and bicycles to cut back on traffic congestion and air pollution.

She went on to tell me that the only thing I had to do was to drive my van a few meters further into the next parking spot every day or drive around the block and park it back where it was - their system would recognize that it was moved even if it is in the same spot again...

The conclusion is: There are many people who park their cars for more than 72 hours on the street - the only problem is: The Delica stands out and even the most retarded parking-enforcement officer can distinguish it from other vehicles...

I will go on a two week vacation in late April... if any Delica Owner in North Vancouver has an idea as to where I should park my van - or would be willing to allow me parking mine in their car port for a few bucks for a couple of weeks, I would appreciate it very much...

Thanks and cheers,

Chris

[Todd64]

That sounds like a good news storey for your local TV and radio. That is totally absurd.

[bryanc]

Call a reporter ...great idea !

[Profister]

There are many people who park their cars for more than 72 hours on the street

I am the one! I park my Delica on the parking lot on the back of the building but my Suzuki SX4 is parked at 200 block on East 2nd Street in North Van. Never had a problem.
Chris, you are welcome to use my parking lot if you want.

[Chewy]

the proven system is probably the same as everywhere else, some little goof on a scooter with a chalk on a stick. If that is the case, get one of your neighbours to do you a favour every morning or two, give them a rag, and get them to rub the chalk off the tire.

I feel you on municipal money grabs involving parking. Who is this inconveniencing to park your car for 72 hours on your own street?

[Profister]

Hey Chewy, you do not know our city hall. They bought a $300,000 equipment and mounted it on Suzuki Grand Vitara and the whole thing looks like Lunokhod: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunokhod_1
GPS combined with image recognition connected to the central database wirelessly replaced the whole bunch of 'goofs on scooters'. The beast is collecting money with the efficiency of a sweeper for several years already!

[bosc]

Unbelievable for sure.

I recently got a ticket while at a course in North Van for "obstructing a driveway" which apparently is what they call parking less than 3 metres away from the farthest edge of where the sidewalk begins to taper.

...Sure grinds my Gears.

I ripped it up and chucked it on the ground all the same. Never seems to catch up with me so far.

I watched the dude over the week I was parking there also not able to get my Deli into the underground student lot. He would drive by within 5 minutes of when the 2 hours was up every time. Unbelievable. I'm glad I don't live down there anymore.

[Fishtank]

What is this system that they can track if your vehicle has moved?

[coaxial]

That is absurd! what is their reasoning for penalizing you for parking your car on your own street and not driving it every day?
How is driving it around the block and re-parking a solution? what is the difference? what is the problem in the first place?

North van certainly has some ridiculous parking laws. On my street and at least in the surrounding areas, starting last summer,they put up dozens of street cleaning warning signs that on one side of the street say don't park here tuesday mornings, and on the other side wednesday mornings. On a street that is already completely full of cars on both sides this has created some interesting results.

The reason they are doing this is to drive a street cleaner up and down the street twice a week. I have lived in several different cities and countries and I've only ever seen street cleaning that happens annually. Now twice a week, year round, rain or shine, the sweeper shows up first thing in the morning every tuesday and wednesday followed by one or two ticketing trucks, usually giving out a dozen $40 tickets a week just on one block alone, for parking on the side being cleaned that day. I'm sure surrounding streets are the same as they have the same signs. There are no parkades or lots in the area, everyone parks on the street.

Then there are the days, or even months at a time, where they just don't show up. Everyone scrambles to have their cars on the correct side of the street tuesday and then move them all to the other side wednesday, sometimes having to park blocks away, and the trucks never come. No harm done, but really annoying.

I've called north vancouver department of traffic/streets to inquire as to why this is all necessary, and the person I spoke with actually agreed with me that it is a bit silly. She had no idea why streets had to be swept twice a week either, but said that is just the way they had decided to do it. Especially in a city where it rains so often, they are causing an awful lot of inconvenience and using a lot of man hours to literally sweep up nothing.

[Meanman]

Sounds like time to get " OLSON ON OUR SIDE" involved.

[impalator]

It's funny that you mention the street cleaning... one street down from Keith (6th) - on the other side of my building, they do the Tuesday morning north-side sweeping and Wednesday morning south-side sweeping with respective parking restrictions on either side for the respective day.

Now what makes a street worthy of being swept every week? Keith Rd for example has not been swept once since I live here. Why does poor Keith Road have to remain dirty and 6th street one block below has to be all spick and spam? Keith Road - with Victoria Park in the middle is actually much nicer than 6th... If anything I'd clean Keith Road (but hold it... we don't want to give these guys any stupid ideas)...

I actually ended up writing a letter to Mayor and Council in North Van... telling them how outdated their parking bylaws are.

Actually just checked their website - and its all about sustainability and going green, commuting via public transit etc... and then they have the nerve to ticket people who leave their car at home and instead ride their bicycle to work.... go figure...

http://www.cnv.org//server.aspx?c=3&i=483

Anyway...

To Profisters point: Now I know what that ridiculous contraption is that cruises around town.. with all the cameras and antennas and flashers etc. mounted on top... Right out of futureworld... But they claim that they can detect if a vehicle has been moved - even if it is parked in the same spot again... I always thought that GPS is only accurate within meters.. but according to their claim it's gotta be able to measure inches and centimeters - if I should be ok parking my van right in the same spot again after rolling around the block once....

I still find these guys unbelievable...

PS: Profister, thanks very much for the parking offer - I actually talked to a friend in West Van who might have a space for me too for a few weeks - but I may have to come back to your offer! Really very much appreciated.

Cheers, Chris

[coaxial]

I'm still completely baffled that there is a bylaw to this affect. I'd love to hear any attempt at an explanation as to why you are breaking the law and are fined when you park in front of your own house for a couple of days.

Most of the year, especially in the summer, my delica is mainly a weekend/camping vehicle, I ride motorcycle or bicycle to work, so I would be guilty of this offence too.. except I have the silly sweep the streets twice a week/musical parking game happening. Is interesting to learn that some streets are not swept at all..

I'm more than a little curious what the city's strategy is with these bylaws, aside from ticket revenue I suppose. I did some reading on the city websites and even read some city council meeting minutes - yep they speak of nothing but green this ecosystem that, and here they are fining you for riding your bike, and insisting that we all drive our vehicles more.

[FalcoColumbarius]

It's a double edged Sword.

One of the reasons that Canada has never successfully been invaded. We serve them with a pleasant cup of tea ~ then introduce them to our bureaucracy. Works every time.

The truth is out there.

[flyfishn]

Devils advocate here please do not boot me moderator.

I think if you are parked in a non high traffic area there should be some give. Also though, would you like it if someone parked their car in front of your place for weeks at a time and you had to find some where else to park. Even Vancouver has a no parking rule for extended periods of time and it helped where I used to live in East Van, this was appreciated as we were near Knight and Kingsway and we had very limited parking for residents. Some times we would have to park a block away and huff it with the groceries and kids.

I love the street sweeping, again in East Van we would see the sweeper twice a year(gross) I am so pleased to see it here in North Van....man is this a clean city.

I have seen your Deli on Keith, and yes it stands out, but I do not think they are targeting you, it is just the GPS tracking system on that Suzuki. I would go the the RCMP and speak with the bylaws officers. Explain your situaution in person.....just maybe it might help.

[Green1]

most cities have a similar bylaw, luckily though ours is "complaint driven" which means unless your neighbour is a jerk you can park as long as you want.