Bylaw infractions decline in Vernon

Feb 28, 2024 | 4:00 PM

Calls to Vernon’s bylaws department in 2023 were down on an annual basis.

The Protective Services Bylaw Compliance 2023 year-end report to city council stated the calls for service totalled 4,880, marking a 14.8 per cent decline from the previous year’s 5,727 bylaw complaints.

“Primary contributing factors affecting the decrease include a 15.8 per cent decrease in parks and public places bylaws, or 2,491 in 2022 down to 2,098 in 2023, as well as a 20.3 per cent decrease in traffic bylaws (1,259 down from 1,580 the year prior),” Darren Lees, Manager of Protective Services, told council at the regular meeting Monday, Feb. 26.

In addition to the parks and traffic calls, there were 359 that dealt with property maintenance, and another 378 were categorized as “miscellaneous,” he said. He noted most involved found property but also included noise and overnight parking infractions.

Of the calls for service in 2023, 2,498 were generated from public reports, 1,794 came through bylaw generated complaints, 298 were referrals from City of Vernon staff, and 290 came through the RCMP.

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In 2023, there were 14,497 bylaw violation tickets issued in Vernon, and at year’s end 10,424 were paid. The report noted there were also six small claims court files in 2023 which resulted in the recovery of $4,315 from people with “significant outstanding unpaid parking violation tickets.”

While overall calls for service were down, 2023 did see 1,006 of the reports come from the downtown core, which was up 38.2 per cent from the 728 calls downtown the previous year.

“This [increase] was a result of continued presence in the core both early in the morning and during the day, just addressing bylaw-related concerns, determining suspicious activity, and enhancing public safety, but it was also the result of several pro-active enforcement initiatives,” Lees explained.

Those initiatives included investigating unpaid business licenses, addressing unpermitted signs left on sidewalks and public places, and working with Vernon Fire Rescue Services and the fire prevention officer to encourage businesses in the downtown to take steps to prevent fires.

Of the infractions downtown, 187 had to do with temporary shelters, 156 were related to traffic, 83 were prohibited use of City of Vernon facilities and parks, and 70 were substance related.

Of the total calls in 2023, 2,025 had to do with the unhoused population, up from 1,960 the previous year.

Lees stated the increase could be attributed to both the Camp Okanagan Outreach Liaison Team (COOL Team) directing unhoused people to shelter and housing opportunities, as well as complaints of messes and garbage left on downtown sidewalks, which both saw increases.

He also noted calls for service involving decriminalization was “very, very low,” though stated the RCMP may have more information on drug-related files.

The bylaw report was received for information by council.

by Liam Verster

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