Starting this month, attendants in private parking lots in Ottawa can issue city parking tickets.
Under the new regulations., vehicles that violate a private parking lot’s terms will receive a city parking ticket from a private parking officer.
“It’s good for private industry when everyone is playing by the same book,” said Denis Condie, who owns Ottawa Parking Services.
Private parking companies and the city will split the ticket revenue.
A City of Ottawa parking ticket is $55, so while the private companies won’t be receiving the full earnings from the fines, Condie hopes more tickets will be paid.
“The city has a bigger hammer than we do,” said Condie. “They can take away the privilege of having a license or plates for your vehicle.”
He said 32 of his employees are training with the City of Ottawa to be private property agents.
While the city is set to make money, Condie said the new relationship will also help police parking companies who take advantage of misleading signage.
For example “overnight parking” might mean until 6 a.m. in one lot, but midnight in another.
“There are places where the system could be manipulated, but the city over time will weed them out. We hope the city will be fair at all times,” said Condie.