Steinbach city council is finalizing an Administrative Penalty Bylaw. City councillor Michael Zwaagstra explains it will be an in-house system for the city to handle appeals of parking tickets.

"The province is requiring cities to establish a bylaw enforcement protocol. In this particular case, the requirement is to have an alternative process for parking infractions so that, instead of it going automatically to summary convictions (Provincial Court), the city would appoint a screening officer. That way there's an opportunity for someone who disagrees with their ticket and wishes to appeal it, to appeal to that screening officer and make their case there. Our hope is that this will streamline the process."

Zwaagstra says this should allow for parking ticket appeals to be settled quickly instead of the court process where there's usually a long wait.

The bylaw will apply initially to only parking tickets. But mayor Chris Goertzen says it may be expanded in the future to include appeals of tickets for infractions of such things as the noise bylaw or nuisance bylaw.

Meanwhile, councillor Cari Penner has urged council that, while it's working on this bylaw, to consider increasing the fines for things like parking illegally in a handicapped stall.

"In particular I drew attention to the fine for parking illegally in a handicapped stall. It is listed at $50 and I feel that is not at all what the current rates are for illegal parking in handicapped stalls."

Council has asked the administration to find out what other cities are charging for parking infractions and develop recommendations for Steinbach.

The new bylaw is expected to get final approval later this year.