By Homeless camp hostility

By Darren Handschuh - CASTANET Oct 7, 2017 / 6:25 am

Vernon bylaw officers are dealing with increasing hostility from residents living in a homeless camp at the linear park along 25th Avenue. In a report that will be presented to council Tuesday, Geoff Gaucher, manager of protective services, said bylaw staff are encountering hostile residents and open drug use. There are four groups consisting of eight to 10 people living in the park. That number increases during the daylight hours as others congregate in the area. Staff report members of the public are bringing food during the day, which is increasing the numbers gathering there. “There are recent incidents involving open drug use and hostile behaviour toward bylaw compliance officers,” said Gaucher. “RCMP have been contacted, and administration is currently setting up a plan to patrol in teams with the RCMP to ensure the safety of city staff during darkness.” Gaucher said homeless are also camping in other areas of the city. “Displacement of camps at Polson Park and allowance for temporary shelter has moved individuals into other areas of the community, and created issues both within the downtown core and on private property,” he said in the report.
“For now, Linear Park and the surrounding neighbourhood are the most convenient for people who are homeless due to proximity to services. City council could opt to limit access to Linear Park, but that would most likely shift people into more residential-commercial spaces in the area.” Gaucher said shelters are usually erected in compliance with city bylaws, but are often not being taken down at 9 a.m., until bylaw officers attend. Bylaw staff remove those sheltering in prohibited areas as well as on boulevards and other city property, he said.
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Council report P.55 https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/meetings/agendas/171010_reg_2.pdf

City Monitoring New Homeless Area

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Pete McIntyre September 26, 2017 05:36 pm

City of Vernon bylaws staff are keeping a watch on the newest concentration of homeless residents in the city.A number of people have been staying in the linear park on 25th Avenue since a new bylaw and enforcement took effect in Polson Park last month. Protective Services Manager Geoff Gaucher says the same rules apply in both parks. “25th Avenue is linear park. It is a park no different than Polson Park, so they can set up a tent and overnight shelter there. There are about six tents that are over-nighting,”Gaucher tells Kiss FM. Gaucher says the campers have to have their shelters down by 9 am, and he says there’s been good compliance. “During the day, were getting other persons coming and spending time there with their possessions during the day at the park.” Gaucher says they have had a few complaints. “25th Avenue is very visible visible, so we do we complaints about people with large piles of property or with their tents up.” Gaucher says his staff is doing its best to enforce the rules.He says only about 3 tents are being put up each night in Polson Park.

Vernon Parking Meters Vandalized Again

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Tom MarkSeptember 26, 2017 06:56 am

Parking meter thieves have been at it again in Vernon. RCMP say the 83 meters in the downtown core have been vandalized over the past several weeks in attempts to get money out of them. The meters are emptied regularly, so it’s difficult to say how much the thieves have been able to steal. But the damage to the meters is a far greater financial loss.Each meter can cost from $25 to $300 to repair. The RCMP have increased patrols in the area in order to catch the people responsible. The public is being asked to be vigilant when downtown and report any suspicious persons believed to be breaking into meters. If you have any information regarding this crime, please call the Vernon RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Winning the Parking Ticket Lotto

Save our pet pig

by Kate Bouey - CASTANET Jul 20, 2016 / 10:53 am

She is small, grey and white and loves cuddles. Unfortunately, Layla also oinks and that is a no-no when it comes to pets in the City of Vernon. A Vernon couple has started a petition in an effort to save Layla, a 30-pound pet mini pig from being removed from their home by the city's bylaw officers. “Recently my spouse and I have been served with a letter stating we have 30 days to re-home her or try to change the decision on this,” said Coralee Carrier, in an online explantion. “We must prove she is a companion and not a farm animal. “More and more (pigs) around the world are being bred to be family members because they make such a great addition to any family.” Carrier called Layla “best-friend and companion” to the couple. “Some may think she's specifically labelled a farm animal, but in our case, she's my exercise motivation, calms my nerves and is so much more than that. She causes no disturbance whatsoever, and is friendly with all and any visitors including their animals and children.” Carrier said Layla has never bitten anyone, that she sleeps in a playpen, loves cuddles and camping. The couple is urging people to sign their online petition while they fight city hall. Castanet has requested information about the matter from Vernon city hall.
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See Previous Pig Decision last yearL  http://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/144037/Porky-pet-prompts-debate

Homeless move 'Kin'

By Kate Bouey -CASTANET Jan 20, 2016 / 5:00 am
Kin Race Track is home, sweet home to a handful of homeless people. While negotiations have been going on between the City of Vernon and the Okanagan Equestrian Society over the site, some of the city's down and outs have moved into the dilapidated horse stables in order to keep warm. Clothes and blankets hanging above stable doors appear to signify a person is occupying that particular box. A large metal drum sits in the middle of the stable rows, apparently used for fires, along with one chair, a pickaxe, a hammer and a crowbar. “I've got a really nice place,” said one man, who admitted living at the site. “We're hoping more people move in here. There's lots of room.” He said at least four boxes were occupied but that more than four people were living on the premises. He said there was not always room at homeless shelters around Vernon. That could be true, according to Kelly Fehr, program director of the John Howard Society for the North Okanagan-Kootenay region, although he suspects other reasons. “Our outreach team was there about a month ago,” said Fehr. “The individuals out there did not want to come in.” “I assume they are active in their addiction,” said Fehr, although he added there could be many reasons the group is living outdoors, including mental health issues, violent behaviour or just getting out of prison. Meanwhile, neither the city or the society appear eager to force the latest tenants out. “We are aware that there are people in and around the stable area but we can't confirm if these people are transient or homeless,” said Darren Lees, senior bylaw compliance office for the city. “The stables are the responsibility of the (Equestrian) Society.” City spokesperson Tanya Laing-Gahr said bylaw officers do have a protocol when responding to homeless camps on public property. “However, on private property or on property that is leased/managed by a third party, it is the responsibility of the property owner/lease/property manager to take the lead on addressing the issue—and in the case of illegal activities, to contact the RCMP rather than City bylaw officers.” “Technically, they are city lands,” countered Ed Woolley, spokesperson for the equestrian society. Woolley was unaware anyone was living in the stables. “If people in unfortunately circumstances choose to live in a horse barn, I don't feel all that eager to turf them out.” He said the city could decide what to do if it became a “liability issue.”

Recently, the society was handed a new offer for the track land that city officials hope will lead the way to brokering a deal. The offer will be put to a board meeting this week, said Woolley, although he is doubtful it will spell the end of the deadlock. The matter will also come up for discussion at the rescheduled annual general meeting of the Okanagan Equestrian Society on Jan. 31.Woolley said even if the offer appears to be acceptable, it is too late to schedule a vote on it at that meeting.

Suspect Arrested In Meter Vandalism

Posted on 12/6/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
RCMP have arrested a suspect in a vandalism spree targeted at parking meters in Vernon. Police officers working with city bylaws and police volunteers led to the arrest of a 34 year old man as he was allegedly breaking into a parking meter on Centennial Drive and 25th Street on Friday morning around 1 am. The man will be in court Monday to face recommended charges of theft and mischief along with possession of a coin operated device."To date, approximately 113 parking meters have been broken into in the Vernon downtown area over the last several weeks. The total cost of the damage is well over $20 000,." says Cst. Jocelyn Noseworthy.

Patrols Cool Downtown Concerns

Posted on 11/24/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
It appears police patrols are the answer to safety concerns in downtown Vernon. RCMP have added foot patrols in the area since complaints about panhandlers erupted a few weeks ago. Staff Sgt. Kara Triance told council. says they realize their visible presence is required. "We've responded to that. We've increased foot patrols and refocused them on 30th Avenue." She says the patrols had been centralized in the Polson park and Green Valley Motel area before the change. "We understand this is a real important area and the need to respond immediately," said Triance. Councillor Scott Anderson -- who initially raised the concerns from social media postings -- says he's satisfied the patrols are addressing the issues. "I am indeed. I think that's what is called for, and I commend them on doing that. And when the additional two officers comes up under the budget, I intend to vote yes on it," Anderson tells Kiss FM. RCMP are calling on the city to fund two more officers for their Downtown Enforcement Unit, at a cost of 165-thousand dollars each. "I think an increased police presence, and especially if it's walking, will really enhance the experience for tourists -- and our town certainly depends on tourists -- and for all of us," adds Anderson. Mayor Akbal Mund says a street vendor's claim he was assaulted by a panhandler, started the issue. "That wasn't the case (the man involved was not a panhandler or transient according to the city), and we've wound up where we are now. Has it increased the safety of downtown? Probably, because now we have more patrols and bylaws down there," says Mund. Mund says when he did a downtown business walk a few weeks ago, the number one issue was parking, not panhandling. "If there's a problem, let us know. If there is a problem and we don't know about it, we can't fix it, " he adds.

Vernon tax increase scaled back

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 16, 2015 at 12:00 PM
Vernon taxes are going up but not as much as first expected. City council wrapped up three days of 2015 budget deliberations Friday by approving a 3.43 per cent tax increase — 1.53 for general operations and 1.9 per cent for infrastructure. “Everyone is looking for the best way to operate the city and keep taxes down. It’s a tight budget,” said Mayor Akbal Mund. The budget had originally called for an overall tax hike of 3.7 per cent, but some changes in expenditures were able to bring the number down. “I like it (3.43 per cent) a whole lot better than the previous one,” said Coun. Scott Anderson, adding that it’s critical to maintain the infrastructure investment. “I would like to see the operating costs go in the opposite direction.” The actual impact of the 3.43 per cent tax increase on the average property has not been determined yet. As part of the process Friday, there was considerable debate about spending $125,000 to update the city’s website. “Is it really required?” said Coun. Bob Spiers. However, Spiers’ colleagues made a push for the project. “I’ve heard that our website is not user-friendly,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham, who says the site is used by businesses and residents. Coun. Brian Quiring also pushed to have the site upgraded so businesses have access to information. “Try to find a bylaw on the website, it’s brutally hard,” he said. During the public input session, resident Jim Bodkin called for the number of bylaw compliance officers to be reduced. “We are really heavy with bylaw officers. I’m not convinced we need that many,” he said. “We need to get in line with other communities.” However, Coun. Catherine Lord defended the city’s bylaw compliance department. “Our officers are doing a fair bit of low level work the RCMP used to do and they are cheaper (to employ) than the RCMP,” she said. The city’s 2015 budget bylaw will now go before council Feb. 10 for initial approval.
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3.4% Vernon Budget Gets Support; Resident States Concerns
Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 16 January 2015 14:26
Vernon residents will likely end up paying a little less on this year's tax bill than first thought. City council has approved a preliminary budget with a tax hike of 3.43 percent, down from the earlier 3.7 percent after some spending was trimmed. It was the first budget for new councillor Scott Anderson. "I'm impressed with the presentations put together by staff. I would like to see the operational costs go in the other direction (lower)," Anderson tells Kiss FM. The tax hike includes 1.5 percent for operational increases, down from an earlier 1.8 projection, and 1.9 percent for an infrastructure fund. The figure was determined after three days of budget talks, and got unanimous support from the seven members. Councillor Bob Spiers, council's tax watchdog, was glad to see the financial plan put together. "It's never satisfying having any kind of a tax hike, but I'm not unhappy. It's over with," says Spiers. Spiers was asked if taxpayers can expect the 1.9 percent tax to upgrade roads, sidewalks and sewers, to be an annual budget feature. "It's a necessary evil because of the infrastructure deficit," says Spiers. City Finance Director Kevin Bertles told Kiss FM, he has yet to calculate what the dollar impact will be to the average homeowner, still waiting for assessment data. Mayor Akbal Mund was pleased the operational increase was pared down, which he credits to staff fine tuning the numbers. "They have done a great job. It sounds kind of funny, but I can say that taxes are going down this year from last year -- a little -- but that's only because of the 1.9% for infrastructure, which we need to do," says Mund. The budget bylaw will be before council February 10th for approval. About five people gave input to council on the new budget over the three days of special meetings. The last one was retiree Jim Bodkin who had a number of beefs. The Bella Vista area resident urged council to take a stand against the master water plan. "The idea of taking water that's was initially intended for agricultural use and spending the money we spend on it to make it drinkable is just dumb," said Bodkin. Bodkin feels the answer is to switch the area's main domestic water source to the lakes, and use Duteau Creek just for farming purposes. Bodkin also feels the city has too many bylaw officers, based on other similar sized cities. "If you do a calculation on per thousand population, we are really heavy with bylaw officers. I'm not convinced we need that many," Bodkin told council. In response, councillors Catherine Lord and Juliette Cunningham spoke in favour of the current staffing levels, who perform a number of duties. "Writing parking tickets is actually a very small part of what they do," said Cunningham. Lord says the city has been able to save money by downloading some of the RCMP's duties onto bylaw officers, which she says are cheaper.

Parking Meter Protocol Could Change

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 09 December 2014 06:00
The new Vernon council is looking to make the downtown a bit more customer-friendly, when it comes to parking. Councillor Brian Quiring wants bylaw officers to provide a five minute grace period from when a meter expires, to when a ticket gets issued. "I think you just want to be a bit more sensitive to the needs of the people that are shopping. People don't always have a loonie. I'm guilty of that all the time. I have to run in (to a business) to get change," says Quiring. Quiring got support from his colleagues for the change which city staff will look into. Bylaws manager Clint Kanester says his officers currently give a three minute grace period, and denies they are over aggressive giving out tickets. He says they normally only have one officer covering 19 kilometres of sidewalk meters and parking lots. "We're not trying to over fish the sea," Kanester told council. New councillor Scott Anderson asked Kanester if the city had costed out warning tickets. "Is it really important to enforce this to the letter of the law?" asked Anderson. Kanester says a warning system has been looked into and would cost up to $50,000. New mayor Akbal Mund says there has to be a balance that works for everyone."Free parking, I've said I would love to have it on Saturdays, give everybody the opportunity. I can also see people going downtown Saturdays and parking all day, and maybe that becomes our test to see if we do or don't need the meters," says Mund.

In their shoes: Riding along with Vernon bylaw

By Charlotte Helston Info-Tel Multimedia April 30, 2014 - 12:37 PM
VERNON - I thought bylaw officers spent all their time shoving parking tickets on my windshield with uncanny timing until I suited up in a protective vest and accompanied them on a typical evening shift. We didn’t go near a single parking meter. On a Friday night, Vernon bylaw officer Russ Lutsenko handed me the navy slacks, button up shirt, knife- and needle-proof safety vest, and jacket that make up the uniform I’ve come to dread seeing near my car. “There are seven bylaw officers with the city and the public thinks all we do is give parking tickets,” Lutsenko said. As we climbed into the bylaw Jeep, I admitted I had a similar theory. It feels like revenue from my parking tickets alone was financing all of city hall. Lutsenko started his 2-10 p.m. shift with pages of files and complaints to follow up on. We started with illegal parking on an alleyway adjacent to a popular park. People park there because it’s convenient, but it’s a safety concern because it inhibits people from getting out, and emergency vehicles getting in, if there’s a crisis. Lutsenko approached a group of young people playing baseball in the park, asked them if the vehicles in question were theirs. He was polite and friendly and it paid off; the group returned to their cars. But that’s not always the case. Lutsenko has been assaulted—both verbally and physically—while responding to calls. He was shoved by a man who came charging out the front door of a house party, drunk and upset. He’s been threatened, called names, fled from. He carries a baton and handcuffs just in case. “I was pretty shy as a kid. I never thought I’d be doing this,” he said. “But I like interacting with all kinds of people and giving back to the community.” It takes a certain type of person to do the job and be good at it. Lutsenko—who works as a plumber during the day—is a natural. “A lot of times you deal with people (who) want to fight,” he said. “You’ve got to know how to diffuse the situation.” It can be hard to stay positive seeing what he does on a daily basis. Drug use, violence, homelessness. What gets him most is seeing young people in bad situations. Children buying drugs in Polson Park, vulnerable girls hanging out with the wrong guys. “It’s hard to see when you have children yourself,” he said. “There’s a lot of sad, unfortunate things that happen around here.” Next on the the list was Polson Park, an area with a reputation for illicit activity—drug deals, drug use, homeless camps. It’s better than it once was thanks to a more hands-on approach to bylaw enforcement implemented about seven years ago. Instead of focusing all efforts on parking violations, the city followed Kelowna in using bylaw officers to combat crime in the community. Where there used to be homeless camps, we passed joggers. Lutsenko chatted with groups in the park, politely checking what people were drinking. Sometimes all it took was him walking towards a group to make them disperse. A complaint regarding a travel trailer parked on a city right-of-way brought us to a different corner of the city, one Lutsenko didn’t need to Google Map—he knows the city like he knows his bylaws. We drove up the specified road and found what we were looking for. Just as Lutsenko was sticking a tow notice on the trailer, the homeowner poked his head out and informed us he was the complainant, not the violator. “The trailer I was calling about is down the road,” he said, clearly frustrated by the turn of events. It took some explaining, but eventually the man understood he’d been illegally storing his trailer on a city right-of-way for years. “A lot of the job is education,” Lutsenko said. “People don’t know all the rules and regulations.” The rest of the evening featured bonfires, unsightly yards, locking up Polson Park for the night, as well as responding to new calls coming in, like those from “regular complainers”—members of the public on a first name basis with bylaw. As Lutsenko made his rounds throughout the city, I puzzled at how he found time to issue me so many parking tickets. He was on the go throughout the shift, tirelessly keeping order in the city.  So I guess my theory was wrong. Bylaw officers don’t just sit around waiting to pounce on expired meters. Often, they’re doing your dirty work for you—telling people to turn their music down, asking your neighbours to move junk off their lawns, keeping rights-of-way clear. All the things that would ruin your day, but that Lutsenko manages to do with a smile.

Parking downtown Vernon just got a bit easier

By Charlotte Helston Info-Tel Multimedia March 11, 2014 - 5:15 PM
VERNON - Remember last month when we warned you to check your change, lest it be swallowed up by the parking meter? Turns out, you don’t have to grab a magnifying glass to make sure your coins are an acceptable mint anymore. As of March 1, Vernon’s parking meters officially began accepting coins from any year, including those issued after April of 2012. It brings an end to the problem of people popping coins into the machine only to realize the money doesn’t register. While the meters didn’t acknowledge newer coins, they still kept the money, which led to some frustrating moments for people trying to park downtown. Due to some misunderstanding at a Feb. 25 meeting at City Hall, council thought the meters wouldn’t be replaced for some time, years even, prompting them to pass a motion for warning decals to be attached to 700 machines at a cost of $4,300. Fortunately, council doesn’t need the decals after all, because the old meters were replaced the first week of March, as planned. The City’s chief administrative officer caught the mistake and notified council with the good news on Monday.

Check your change: It's not always easy to pay for parking

By Charlotte Helston Info-Tel Multimedia February 26, 2014 - 4:59 AM

Possible Future Solution ??

VERNON - What’s worse than paying double for your parking spot? A serious contender must be finding out your shiny loonie is too new to be accepted in the machine. That’s the frustrating scenario many local and visiting drivers have experienced of late. Vernon’s parking metres don’t accept coins issued after April of 2012 and though the city is gradually installing new machines, it could take a few years to phase the old ones out completely. It’s the latest in a series of grumbles over Vernon’s metres. Last year, the city doubled the rates to a dollar an hour—not popular with Vernon’s downtown business sector. Next, concerns arose over the height of the new metres. If you look closely, the original metres have small decals on them advising what mints are accepted. Unfortunately, no one notices them until it’s too late, Coun. Brian Quiring says. “It’s a huge problem. Half the people say they threw their money in and it didn’t accept it,” Quiring says.  His concerns were echoed by Coun. Juliette Cunningham who says it’s been frustrating enough for the public to deal with the new parking rates. Council’s solution? Bigger stickers. At a cost of $4,300 the city will put larger decals on 700 parking metres indicating what coins are accepted. Hopefully you don’t miss them, because the machine keeps your money, even when it won’t register it.

Employment Opportunities - City of Vernon

Bylaw Compliance Officer
Closing Date: February 21, 2014
Job Posting - PDF

Ten traffic bylaws you've never heard of

Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca October 23, 2013 - 11:57 AM
VERNON - In his career as a bylaw officer, Vernon’s Clint Kanester has seen and heard some crazy things, but he says the day to day is like a broken record.“I knew a (bylaw officer) who told people if they could tell him a story he hadn’t heard, he wouldn’t give them the ticket,” Kanester says.The most common stories he hears for parking violations are I didn’t have any change or The hair salon took too long or maybe The line up at the bank was longer than I thought. “Some people fake that their car broke down, some will put a fake or an old ticket on their windshield,” Kanester says. “Some people will drive around until they find a car of the same general description and put the ticket on that car. If the time’s expired when the owners get back, often they’ll just pay it.” Excuses aren’t just limited to parking, either. People debate all kinds of traffic violations. Kanester believes the best prevention is education. “Usually if they know the reasoning behind the bylaw, they understand,” Kanester says.

Just for fun, we’ve brought you a top ten list of the City of Vernon’s parking and traffic violations that you might not have heard of. They range from restrictions on sleighs, to flower stands, to taping posters on telephone poles. Created in 1979, Kanester admits they’re in need of an update.

1. Tacking up a garage sale sign could bring you some unwanted visitors
It shall be unlawful for any person, unless with permission by resolution of the Council, to post any bill or placard on any tree, electric light pole, telephone pole, hydrant or street sign in or upon any highway, or otherwise mark or deface any such tree, electric light pole, telephone pole, hydrant or street sign.

If you want to advertise a garage sale, better stick to Kijiji. Posting signs of any kind on light poles, telephone poles, trees or other government property could theoretically land you a fine if you don’t have permission from city hall. The bylaw includes anything from concert posters to yoga schedules.
2. Don’t tie Barkley to a tree while you pop into the store
It shall be unlawful for any person to tie or fasten, or cause to be tied or fastened any animal to any tree, in or upon any highway, or to any protective box, guard, or supporting post, placed beside or about any such tree for the support and protection of such tree.

You see it all the time: a jogger ties their furry companion to a tree while they run in to buy some gatorade, or it’s too hot to leave Barkley in the car while you do your shopping. While pet owners might think they’re doing the right thing, technically, they’re breaking the law. Kanester admits it’s a rarely enforced bylaw, but says it’s helpful in certain scenarios. Maybe there’s an issue of animal cruelty, or maybe a pesky pooch is preventing people from entering a business. In these cases, it’s back to the rule book.
3. Keep your sleigh to the backcountry
No person shall use roller skates, skateboards, sleighs, skates or other means of conveyance on any roadway.

Sorry Santa, you’ll need a permit for that. Anything other than cars, bikes and scooters are banned from roadways. Icy roads may seem better suited for skates than tires in the wintertime, but you’ll have to stick to the rink lest your pirouettes disturb traffic.
4. The open road is not your own personal mechanics shop, or dealership
No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle on any street for the principal purpose of advertising, washing, greasing, repairing, wrecking or storing such vehicle (except repairs necessitated by an emergency)

And you thought you were so clever changing your oil down the road instead of sullying your own driveway. Busted. In the city’s eyes, your mess is your responsibility. And if you want to sell that car after it’s had a tune up, don’t even think about it. Parking it with a for sale sign on any street—even in areas where parking is not governed by metres—is considered unsightly and hazardous. What if someone causes an accident while squinting at the phone number on the ad?
5. Setting up shop on the highway is no-no
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle upon any highway for the principal purpose of selling flowers, fruit, vegetables, sea foods, or other commodities or articles.

What are you trying to do, teach your kids to be criminals with that daffodil stand? Better close up shop before you get ticketed. Kanester says food, flower and merchandise stalls that don’t have sufficient parking can cause accidents. You’ve got people pulling in, pulling out, stopping to smell the flowers and all of a sudden, things can turn sour.
6. Cruise quietly and leave your steam organ at home
No person shall operate upon a vehicle any calliope, loudspeaker or other noise-making device upon the streets of the City for advertising or other purposes, unless a permit has been applied for and granted on authority of the Council.

There aren’t many calliopes kicking around anymore, but they’d be run off the streets today if there were. The steam or compressed air organs, along with other noise-making devices like loudspeakers are banned from city streets. Some exceptions apply to ice cream trucks.
7. Watch out for falling china
No person shall throw, drop, deposit or leave or let fall from or out of any vehicle or conveyance, any bottles, bottle, glass, crockery, nails, tacks, woods, sawdust, or refuse or any object or materials whatever, on or upon any street, highway or lane within the City.

Keep your hands—and your crockery—inside the vehicle at all times. As if watching your grandma’s china slip out the window isn’t punishment enough, you could also receive a fine for the offense. Be especially cautious on bumpy roads.
8. Cyclists, no fancy riding, please
No rider of a bicycle shall remove both hands from the handle bars or feet from the pedals, or practice any acrobatic or fancy riding on any street.
And further:
No person shall ride a bicycle upon a street while wearing headphones, or any other manufactured device capable of transmitting sound, over or in close proximity to both ears.

You love to work out to Rihanna, but you’ll have to save it for the gym (or, limit your listening to one ear). While you’re at it, keep both palms on the handle bars and refrain from any “fancy riding”—taking your feet off the pedals or performing any acrobatic stunts.
9. Repeat metering prohibited
Upon the expiration of the time provided by proper deposit of a coin as hereinbefore provided, no person shall thereupon make a further deposit, or cause to be further deposited in a parking meter, any coin for the purpose of obtaining an extension of the parking time...

You’ve got a prime parking spot, but you can’t simply refill the meter all day long. Buying the spot doesn’t necessarily entitle you to use it. After two hours, you’re required to move along, even if it’s just to the spot in front of you.
10. Keep your distance from fire trucks
No person driving or operating any vehicle, except such vehicles as are conveying authorized persons who may have duties to perform in connection with a fire, shall follow closer than within 150 metres of any vehicle of the City Fire Department traveling in response to any fire alarm.

Leave lots of room—150 metres to be exact—between yourself and fire trucks. That’s about one and a half times the length of a soccer field, so you’d better hit the brakes.
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Don Quixote Note: You can view the Traffic Bylaw and pick out your favourite at

• Traffic Bylaw # 2747 

Enforcement plan angers councillor

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 16, 2013 1:00 AM
A Vernon politician believes a basic response to motorists is being complicated. Coun. Catherine Lord voted against the draft parking enforcement policy Tuesday, insisting that it will do nothing to reduce conflicts between bylaw officers and residents using parking meters. “We are using a hammer to kill a mosquito,” she said of the 32-page document that outlines parking regulations. Lord believes the parking advisory committee and staff bypassed an opportunity to enhance customer service and issue warnings to motorists instead of issuing fines for infractions. “It’s absolutely ridiculous.” However, city staff say the goal of the policy is to educate the public on issues related to parking and meters. “We are trying to put everything out there in a plain and transparent manner,” said Amanda Watson, a transportation technician. But Lord counters that the magnitude of the document means most residents will never turn a page. “Not one of my neighbours will read the policy on how to avoid getting a parking ticket,” she said, adding that it will also be onerous for bylaw officers to navigate the requirements. “Giving them (officers) instruction should be a management responsibility. Setting things out in policy on how to behave won’t resolve anything. A lot of it is common sense and we’ve done away with that.”
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   32 page Policy Document can be found at:  http://www.vernon.ca/images/uploads/council/agendas/packages/131015_1.pdf   P.62-94

Draft Parking Enforcement Policy, as attached to the memorandum dated  October 7, 2013, from the Transportation Engineer, which provides a clear and transparent parking regulations, to ensure the safe and orderly flow of traffic and to maximize the  availability of each parking space for the benefit of the whole community

Meter heights causing a stir in downtown Vernon

By Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 29, 2013 11:00 AM 

Foiled Again !!

The height of new parking meters is creating challenges for some residents.  The City of Vernon is currently experimenting with credit card capable meters in the 3000 to 3200 blocks of 30th Avenue. However, the meters add  height to the existing structures. “Please bear with us as we move forward with making a decision regarding which meters will eventually be purchased,” said Kevin Koral, bylaw enforcement officer. Koral says the city will reduce the height of the posts to a more appropriate level as it moves forward with a specific style of meter in October. “The public is encouraged to try the new style parking meters with a credit card, and make comments with regards to their experience at www.mobosurvey.com/SGE3M,” said Koral.

Installation of new Vernon parking meters starts Tuesday

By Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star Updated: June 28, 2013 4:52 PM Starting Tuesday, you can use your credit card to park in downtown Vernon. New parking meters are being installed on both sides of 30th Avenue in the 3100- and 3200-blocks. About a week later, the 3300 block will receive new meters. The meters will take the $1- and $2-coins, quarters and credit cards. The credit card purchase minimum is $1, or 1 hour of time. However, customers can still buy 15 minutes of parking time with a quarter. “The new credit card reading meters are being trialed and will give extra convenience to the public and allow us to replace some of the meters that don’t accept the newly minted coins or the new rates,” said Clint Kanester, manager of bylaw enforcement. The meters are being installed for free as a trial by both IPS Group Inc. and Mackay Meters. Bylaw  officers will be provided free training on operation and maintenance of these meters by each company. The trialed meters also are capable to immediately analyze data, such as what types of coins are used, space use, credit card use, and will allow better auditing of the system. The meters are solar powered so they will require fewer batteries and therefore reduce the city’s carbon footprint.  The meters also notify the bylaw officers if they are jammed or have gone down, so that they can be quickly put back into running order. IPS provides a free information site and survey for users of the new meters online at http://www.ipsgroupinc.com/vernon/index.html. Should you require further information, please contact the bylaw section at 250-550-3505.

Bylaw Officer Helps Mountie

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM  Tuesday, 21 May 2013 15:20 
A Vernon bylaw officer was in the right place to help out a police officer involved with a traffic stop in the downtown.  The Mountie had pulled over a suspected drunk driver in the 3200 block of 33rd Street Sunday night but was getting yelled at by two of the car's occupants. The bylaw officer helped the Mountie handcuff the female driver and keep the other agitated passenger at bay. A 21 year old Vernon woman was issued a 90 day immediate roadside prohibition, and is also expected to face a mischief charge after kicking the door of a police car. "She was taken to cells and the aggressive male was later released when he had calmed down. The second man was also let go on his way as he remained calm during this road check," says RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk. Molendyk says the incident shows the working relationship the police have with the city's bylaw officers.

Bylaw Officers Aid New Family