Homeowners whose properties are littered with derelict vehicles could face a new foe.
The Town of Innisfil hopes to move to a ticket system that will allow bylaw officers to fine offenders.
But while the tickets will make the job somewhat easier for the town’s three bylaw officers, the system won’t be as simple as issuing a parking ticket, Planning Director Robert McAuley said.
It will still be complaint-driven, with bylaw officers responding to calls from the public about problem properties, McAuley said.
After a complaint is received, the property owner will be reminded they are breaking a bylaw and will be given time to get rid of the offending debris. If the offender doesn’t comply, that’s when the town can issue a ticket and impose a fine.
Of course, that ticket can still be fought in court just like a parking ticket.
“This will make it a bit easier from our perspective,” McAuley said. “Under the current system, laying a charge can be bit onerous. A ticket would be quicker.”
If an offender is found guilty under the ticket system, the municipality can tow the derelict vehicle.
The town is still waiting for the province to approve its fine schedule, but the system is expected to get the go ahead, McAuley said.
While the town has relied primarily on complaints about unkempt properties, bylaw officers have targeted specific areas of town as well, McAuley said.
“Sometimes we’ll take a look at whole street if it gets out of hand,” McAuley said. “We did a couple of areas like that last year. There was only one property owner who fought us.”
Meanwhile, Coun. Bill Pring has spearheaded a committee to review the town’s property standards bylaws.
In some cases, the bylaws have been difficult to uphold in court due to the wording, Pring said.
“When we started to take bylaws into court, we found they were not always as strong as they should be to be enforceable in court,” Pring said.
Making the bylaws tougher to fight could force more offenders to clean up their properties without challenging the town in court, Pring said.
The committee will likely look at effective bylaws in other municipalities such as Bradford West Gwillimbury, Pring said.
Bradford saw a 53 per cent increase in bylaw infractions last year.
“The public has become more aware of their obligations and that may have encouraged them to file complaints,” said Jack Tosta, Bradford West Gwillimbury chief building officer.?
“There’s a change of attitude. New people are moving into Bradford and have higher expectations of what’s acceptable.”
Last year, Innisfil Council proposed a property standards bylaw that would have made parking school buses, recreation vehicles and tractor trailers in driveways illegal in most cases. However, the plan was scrapped in the face of vocal opposition from school bus drivers and truck drivers.
Files from Bradford West Gwillimbury Topic
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