Watering your lawn against the law will cost a lot more in Coquitlam after council voted Monday to increase fines.
The recent hot and dry weather conditions prompted the changes and residents will now face fines that escalate with each stage of Metro Vancouver’s watering restriction.
Now, someone caught watering their lawn outside the designated times will pay a $75 fine during a stage 1 restriction, an amount that doubles to $150 during a stage 2 restriction.
Violating the stage 3 restrictions — which are currently in place in all Metro Vancouver cities — will cost $300 while a stage 4 violator will pay $500. Fines can be reduced if paid within 14 days.
During the current stage 3 water restriction, residents are banned from watering their lawns, refilling hot tubs, pools and garden ponds, and washing boats and vehicles. Exemptions for new lawns and nematode applications are void during a stage 3 ban.
There are also changes to the city’s smoking bylaw.
SMOKING COULD COST
Coquitlam parks have long been non-smoking at all times, with $75 tickets for anyone caught breaking the rules. But that amount will now increase to $500 between June 1 and Sept. 30, or anytime there is an extreme fire risk.
“Despite public awareness on the topic, cigarette butts remain one of the leading causes of fires in parks, forests and dry grass,” Andrea MacDonald, Coquitlam’s manager of bylaw and animal control services, said last week.
Residents who see someone violating the watering restrictions are asked to contact the engineering customer service line 24/7 at 604-927-3500. People are encouraged to contact the department while the violation is taking place and/or provide evidence of the violation, like a time-stamped photo.
Residents who see someone smoking in a park can call bylaws at 604-927-7387 or 604-927-3085 or email bylaw_enforcement@coquitlam.ca.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
@gmckennaTC
For some Tri-City views on watering bans, see TC Letters, page 11
