Get your non-electric vehicle out of Barrie’s charging stations, or soon you could be slapped with a hefty fine.
With the province expected to enforce new laws around electric-vehicle-charging stations soon, the City of Barrie is preparing to modify its signs.
“The current signage allows for non-electric vehicles to park in these spaces. Staff will be bringing forward recommendations to council in early 2020 as part of our parking strategy update,” said Scott LaMantia, senior communications advisor with the city.
“If the new regulation comes first with the sign requirements and exemptions to act then staff will present a report to general committee to recommend the appropriate bylaw amendments ahead of the parking strategy," he added.
Bill 123, called the Reserved Parking for Electric Vehicle Charging Act 2019, was put forward in June by Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner.
The bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to add a provision which provides that no person shall park a vehicle in an electric-vehicle charging station that is identified by a sign that satisfies the requirements prescribed by regulation, unless the vehicle is an electric vehicle and it is attached to the station’s charging equipment.
A person who contravenes the new section would be guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of $125.
The bill received Royal Assent on Dec. 12, 2019, but the Lieutenant Governor has yet to say when the Act will come into effect.
The City of Barrie currently has four electric vehicle charging stations around town: the Collier Parkade, the downtown branch of the Barrie Public Library, the Heritage Park lot on Simcoe Street, and the Barrie Marina at 55 Lakeshore Dr.
The electrical cost is currently being paid by the municipality, however, according to the city's website, as use becomes more significant, the city intends to charge for the use of the charging stations.
For more information on electric-vehicle charging stations in the city, click here.
