You Does The Crime You Does The Time

One ticket, a hundered tickets! It shouldn't matter. I don't go along with this idea that you give the first person a break. Collecting the fines is not the issue BUT RATHER THE METHOD USED.

Time to park the collection agency
By Rob Granatstein

The rules of engagement are simple. If you arrive back at your car to find the dreaded yellow parking ticket tucked under your windshield wiper you either pay or fight.

The rules are simple on the city's side, too. Receive payment for the ticket, go to court to defend the ticket, or send the information to the Defaulted Fines Control Centre of the ministry of transportation to have the renewal of the driver's licence plate denied.

Using those tools, the city collects on approximately 81% of its tickets, while 15% are cancelled in court. That leaves 4% of the tickets in plate denial -- usually tied up with the dead, people not renewing their licence plates or who have left the province.

What is unacceptable is hiring a goon squad collection agency to hunt down people who have allegedly not paid tickets dating back almost two decades. An agency using the dastardly tool of incessant harassment and threats.

We're hearing stories by the dozen of Canadian Bonded Credits Ltd. (CBCL) on the rampage over fines as little as $42.50 from 17 years ago.

Go ahead and beat the resistance out of the people who owe $500 or more, but one or two tickets? Give us a break!

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