MONTREAL – Tourists in Montreal owe $8.5 million worth of traffic tickets, according to city officials, but they won’t be collecting any time soon.
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Why?
Once a tourist leaves the province, Montreal police can’t cross the border and collect the fines.
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Since 2012, the number of unpaid speeding and parking tickets has increased five-fold.
| Year | Unpaid tickets | Amount due |
| 2015 | 32, 216 | $ 2, 786, 370 |
| 2014 | 17, 781 | $ 2, 227, 025 |
| 2013 | 9, 837 | $ 2, 070, 519 |
| 2012 | 6, 560 | $ 1, 489, 664 |
| TOTAL | 66, 394 | $ 8, 573, 578 |
Quebec does have agreements with Ontario, New York and Maine, but only for the purpose of sharing information.
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Global News legal expert Philip Schneider explained the city could establish more cross-border collaborations, or require drivers to pay their tickets immediately when they are stopped.
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The City of Montreal told Global News that a court notice of payment is sent to defendants outside Quebec for unpaid tickets, but after a certain period of time, police officers are unable to enforce procedures.