Media Release - West Vancouver’s Bylaw Department Rolls Out New Technology
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012, West Vancouver, BC - As part of the 2012 budget, Council approved the purchase of a camera car to conduct vehicle licence reading. The camera car consists of an existing bylaw services vehicle outfitted with two cameras on either side and one on the back—the side cameras capture photos of parked vehicle tires while the rear camera snaps an image of the vehicle licence plates. This new enforcement tool will lead to more efficient parking with increased turn-over of vehicles in busy commercial areas, decreased staff costs (including the reduction of one position), and more efficient deployment of bylaw resources across the community.
In the past, drivers who exceeded parking time limits could avoid incurring a ticket by erasing chalk off their wheels or moving their cars forward. This will no longer be possible as the vehicle licence reader will be able to identify how long vehicles have been in one spot. The car is being tested throughout the community, but no additional tickets will be issued during this testing phase.
The camera car will be phased into service over the next few weeks with camera-car-based parking enforcement beginning on September 17, 2012. This phased-in approach is intended to provide residents and businesses with sufficient time to acclimatize to the camera car and make alternative parking arrangements.
This technology, which is equipped with a database of all parking zones as well as any stolen cars from ICBC’s system, is already in use in the City of North Vancouver as well as other Metro Vancouver municipalities. West Vancouver will only store data as evidence from vehicles with tickets issued; all other data will be deleted. The District will ensure to meet any recommendations from the Privacy Commissioner about this technology as it arises.
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About the District of West Vancouver
The District of West Vancouver is the local government led by Mayor Michael Smith and Council. Home to more than 44,000 residents, West Vancouver is a local government which strives to "inspire excellence and lead by example". Our Vision and Mission guide us to pursue our treasured quality of life and will be the measure of our success as a community. West Vancouver is a community built on innovation, a strong spirit of personal civic commitment and a deep value for relationships.
Media Contact
Jessica Delaney Director of Communications
c: 604-360-8131 | d: 604-925-4736 | e: jdelaney@westvancouver.ca