Saskatoon cancels all parking tickets issued on Monday
City cuts people slack after stat holiday misunderstanding
The City of Saskatoon has cancelled all parking tickets issued on Monday because of the widespread assumption that the day was a statutory holiday, which would have meant parking was free.
But the city did not recognize Jan. 2 as a statutory holiday and was OK to charge people on that day under the bylaw.
City spokesman Andrew Hildebrandt said the city became aware of the misunderstanding the following day.
"Complaints had come in about the confusion regarding some individuals thinking it should have been free: Those who didn't pay got tickets, and then those who did pay saying, 'Hey, what about me?" Hildebrandt said.
About 350 parking tickets were issued in the paid parking areas that day and so far only a "handful" have been paid, he said. The city will reimburse all payments. Cash refunds will be available at City Hall on Jan. 9.
The city will work to prevent similar confusion from happening again, Hildebrandt said.
"The biggest part is to make sure we're just clear on this in the future," he said. "It's not our intention to try and trap or trick anybody with parking."