WATCH: With Metro Vancouver now at Stage 3 restrictions, one city has decided to take off the gloves when it comes to enforcement. Rumina Daya explains.
Metro Vancouver moved to Stage 3 water restrictions yesterday and some municipalities appear more serious about enforcing the rules than others.
If there’s evidence water restrictions are being broken in the municipality of Delta, bylaw inspectors like Meenu Kainth are ready to issue a $400 fine.
Kainth says the sight of a sprinkler watering a lawn is enough evidence to hand out a fine without a warning.
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“You should know the rules, the evidence is there and I would lay the charge,” said Kainth.
READ MORE: ‘The best approach is to always talk to people’: Vancouver city official on #lawnshaming trend
Delta appears to be stricter than other municipalities, some of which haven’t handed out any tickets since June. Vancouver, for instance, has issued six times as many warnings as Delta, but they’re neck-and-neck when it comes to handing out fines.
Here are some numbers from other municipalities:
-West Vancouver: 82 warnings/0 tickets
-Surrey: 800 warnings/ 4 tickets
-Coquitlam: 134 warning/ 27 tickets
-Delta: 250 warning/ 29 tickets
“If we give everybody a warning, I think there’s a tendency to wait until you get your warning before you comply as opposed to knowing that there’s a good chance you’re going to get a ticket if we catch you,” said Hugh Davies of Delta’s compliance division. “People are more responsive to that type of enforcement, I believe.”
-With files from Rumina Daya
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