A Coquitlam father is blaming poor signage after his family and 71 others were given parking tickets during last week’s School District 43 track and field meet at Percy Perry Stadium.
David Preddy told The Tri-City News his father- and mother-in-law received the fine after parking in the lot along Pinetree Way, below the Trevor Wingrove Way entrance to Town Centre Park. They had been at the stadium to watch Preddy’s daughter compete and when they returned to their vehicle, they noticed it had been ticketed, along with half a dozen others.
“It seemed heavy handed,” he said. “When you are aware of an event going on, you’d think an announcement could have been made instead of 72 people getting tickets.”
Preddy added that better signage would have been helpful and that his in-laws only noticed the no parking signs when a bylaw officer pointed them out.
Stephanie James, the acting director of legal services and bylaw enforcement with the city of Coquitlam, confirmed 72 violations were issued, noting that the lot is kept open for students of Pinetree secondary and Douglas College.
“This lot was not rented to the district track event,” she said in an email. “We have a responsibility to the Pinetree community centre and Douglas College students to ensure that external events do not hamper their use of the facilities they are attending.”
Still, given the number of violation notices that were issued, she said the city would do better to improve the signage during next year’s event.
“Given last week’s experience, we will work to have more event day signage next year so the parking lot usage is clear for all parents, staff and students during the meet.”
The number of street and traffic bylaw infractions in Coquitlam has increased over the last couple of years.
In 2014, for example, 14,276 bylaw enforcement notices were issued, a number that rose 9.2% to 15,585 in 2015. The increase corresponds to a 21.7% rise in street and traffic complaints from residents, which rose from 1,394 in 2014 to 1,697 in 2015.
@gmckennaTC
