City of Calgary Bylaw Services is recommending a proposal to drop the maximum fines for graffiti from their current $5,000 down to a range of $500 to $1,500.
Bill Bruce, the director of Animal and Bylaw Services, said there was a reluctance to apply this penalty, and a more flexible fine would allow some discretion by the court.
“Quite often when they go to court, they end up getting it reduced or being found not guilty,” he said.
He said most people go to court because they can’t afford the ticket, but with a lower penalty less people would fight it. “We’re really finding there’s no evidence to suggest the $5,000 fine is really changing people’s behaviour,” said Bruce.
