The police services board hopes proposed provincial legislation will mean more money for the city.
The responsibility of administering the Provincial Offences Act was handed to municipalities more than 15 years ago. But unpaid Highway Traffic Act offences alone total more than $669 million.
The minority Liberal-led provincial government is introducing legislation later this week that would make drivers pay up when they go to renew their license plates, similar to parking tickets.
That might help the City of Thunder Bay rake in an estimated $19 million that people owe for various provincial offenses.
“This has been a long process. We’ve been fighting for it for years,” board chair Coun. Joe Virdiramo said.
He’s happy the province is finally putting a plan in place to collect on the fines.
“What’s the point of issuing tickets and penalties such as that to residents and citizens that are not paid? What’s the point of doing that (police) work? I think finally the government has taken a positive ear to it.”
It’s unclear what the financial impact would be should the legislation pass.
Virdiramo said the money would go to the city, which would decide what to do with it.
