Friday’s North Bay Police Services public meeting turned into a heated debate at times. The North Bay Police Services Board called the meeting, the first of two, as required by law.
But it turned into a forum for the public’s anger over a proposed new fee on the 72 hour leeway currently given on some non-moving traffic violations.
About 20 people attended the meeting.
Police Chief Paul Cook is looking at recovering costs by having drivers pay for the option of being given the chance to fix something like a burnt out taillight or not having proper documentation like insurance papers.
The cost is undecided as yet but could range between $11.40 and $21.97.
Last year, North Bay police handed out 1,825 of the three day compliance notices.
At the meeting, members of the public questioned if the relationship between the North Bay police officers and the public would suffer with the new fee.
President of the North Bay Taxpayer’s Association, Miles Peters added, “This is a new form of taxation which will have a negative pushback from the public. Those hurt will be the financially vulnerable with the older vehicles like seniors and single parents."
Micheline Turner was there to become more informed and speak out. “No one has an extra $20. I don’t think the fee is fair for those who accidentally don’t comply, say with a burnt out headlight. So maybe charge the ones who don’t comply.“
Elizabeth Appleton stood to say, “This fee will hamper community relations and make criminals of non-criminals.”
North Bay’s incoming Deputy Mayor, Sheldon Forgette, was listening in on the meeting.
Baytoday.ca reported on election night that Forgette did not support the proposed fee. Now that he has a seat on the North Bay Police Board, Forgette says he’s not sure and is mulling it over.
“I understand what the Chief is trying to do. He’s trying to take the load off of the taxpayer and direct the fee on the person who is causing the process to happen. Maybe there’s a way we can get revenue out of the people who don’t actually comply with the compliance notice given out by the ticketing officer."
Another public meeting is slated for Saturday morning at 9 at the North Bay Police Station.
Chief Cook will report on the results of the public consultation meetings at the Police Services Board meeting November 12.
