Overnight On-street Parking.

[DC1983]

One night this week, everyone who was parked facing the 'wrong direction' (first off, it's a small, downtown residential street, not a major artery) was fined by Hamilton By-Law for being parked facing the wrong way. About a dozen cars were tagged.

Just a heads up as there seems to be some crazy By-Law Blitz in Hamilton since Bratina took over.

Bars/Clubs have huge lineups due to new 'capacity' by-laws. Cars are being tagged for stupid infractions that ppl have been doing for decades. And some bars have even been closed down for by-law infringements.

All this never happened before? Is this all due to Bratina's reign?

[mattgrande]

Which bars have been closed? Do you know why?

[DC1983]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

Which bars have been closed? Do you know why?

Five Star Cafe on James @ Robert for about 3 weeks back in the winter.
Not that I'm complaining (I actually hate that bar, esp the ppl who cause havoc outfront daily), but it was closed for allowing ppl to smoke right outside.

[oldcoote]

Originally Posted by DC1983

One night this week, everyone who was parked facing the 'wrong direction' (first off, it's a small, downtown residential street, not a major artery) was fined by Hamilton By-Law for being parked facing the wrong way. About a dozen cars were tagged.

I was told this was a by-law that could be enforced on streets with a painted line down the middle. ie. side streets would be exempt.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by DC1983

Just a heads up as there seems to be some crazy By-Law Blitz in Hamilton since Bratina took over.

Bars/Clubs have huge lineups due to new 'capacity' by-laws. Cars are being tagged for stupid infractions that ppl have been doing for decades. And some bars have even been closed down for by-law infringements.

All this never happened before? Is this all due to Bratina's reign?

Originally Posted by DC1983

Five Star Cafe on James @ Robert for about 3 weeks back in the winter.
Not that I'm complaining (I actually hate that bar, esp the ppl who cause havoc outfront daily), but it was closed for allowing ppl to smoke right outside.

I don't think there is a correlation between Bratina's term and bylaw enforcement. There was a blitz for wrong-way street parking on my street a couple years back. While it may seem petty, it is actually a distinct traffic hazard having cars parked in the wrong direction as they are crossing the flow of traffic when parking and then again when driving away from the parking spot.

With regards to 5-Star specifically, I am not sure who your information source was, but the bar was closed by AGCO, not bylaw officers, and it was for serving an intoxicated customer (not for smoking near the entrance). The infraction occurred back in May of 2010, the hearing was on November 8 and the fine of a two-week closure was served in January of this year. While the penalty was served during Bratina's current term, the charge itself predates this term and was brought forward by a provincial authority well beyond the scope of the Mayor's office.

Details of the case were reported in the Spec:

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...ence-suspended

[flar]

Wow, parking the wrong way on side streets is a time honoured Hamilton tradition. (actually, Hamilton is the only place I've ever seen anyone do that)

[holymoly]

Agreed. We call it "parking Hamilton-style."

[bornagainbiking]

This is just laziness. What a 5 sec reduction in movement from the driver's seat to the TV? We were taught to drive on the right side of the road. Check out the stretch of road on Ferguson between Barton and Burlington. What a disorganized mess.

[Casandrita]

In the inner-city more houses are being converted into multi-family rentals bringing more cars into neighbourhoods that only offer on-street parking. Introduction of new traffic lights wipes out entire blocks worth of parking spaces.

And then there is a rat in our midst who prides him/herself on calling in to the bylaw office to complain when cars don't switch to the other side of the street at midnight and/or are parked facing in the 'wrong' direction.

$1000's of dollars are drained from this poor neighbourhood every month at the whim of a single citizen. I don't think this is right. Complaints should only bring a bylaw officer running if cars are blocking a laneway or intersection i.e., if the situation directly effects the individual calling in.

Sorry for the rant ... I can't even offer a solution to the parking situation.

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by Casandrita

In the inner-city more houses are being converted into multi-family rentals bringing more cars into neighbourhoods that only offer on-street parking. Introduction of new traffic lights wipes out entire blocks worth of parking spaces.

And then there is a rat in our midst who prides him/herself on calling in to the bylaw office to complain when cars don't switch to the other side of the street at midnight and/or are parked facing in the 'wrong' direction.

$1000's of dollars are drained from this poor neighbourhood every month at the whim of a single citizen. I don't think this is right. Complaints should only bring a bylaw officer running if cars are blocking a laneway or intersection i.e., if the situation directly effects the individual calling in.

Sorry for the rant ... I can't even offer a solution to the parking situation.

Wow that's a jerk move. Are you sure bylaw isn't just sending someone in at the end of month of their own volition? That wouldn't surprise me either.