If you're prone to getting parking tickets, there's good news.
Starting next year, the month of April will be included in the period during which drivers will be able to park overnight on the street without being fined.
Sarnia council amended the city's winter parking regulations Monday night, shaving a month off the bylaw which prohibits vehicles from parking on city streets to allow for snow removal.
Councillor Mike Kelch, who originally championed the idea, is pleased.
"I think the switch is great," says Kelch. "That was my idea in 2013, to stop collecting about $70,000 a year in overnight parking fees and it took us about three years to figure out that it was the right thing to do, because it's hard to give up that money. Now we're extending that a little bit and we're going to give up a little bit more money. I think it's money that we probably shouldn't have been taking in the first place."
The restrictions were originally scrapped as an effort to reduce drinking and driving after summer parties.
Vehicles will now be prohibited from parking on city streets between 2am to 5:30am, from November 1 to March 31.
Getting rid of April enforcement is expected to cost the city about $17,500 in lost revenue.
About $1,000 will be spent to change Sarnia's overnight parking signs.
