WHEREAS there are minor Bylaw offences, such as, but not limited to, dogs running at large and parking infractions, to which a voluntary payment option may be available to the offender pursuant to the terms of an RM Bylaw.

WHEREAS in the event an offender does not voluntarily make payment, further enforcement action against the offender is required through the Court system which is cost prohibitive and time consuming for Rural Municipalities to pursue.

WHEREAS it would be desirable that if the offender (a) is a ratepayer of the Rural Municipality in which the offence took place; (b) fails to respond to the offence notice; and (c) fails to pay an amount equal to the specified penalty sum for the offence within a stipulated time period, that the specified penalty sum be added to the ratepayer’s annual municipal taxes, in order to enforce and collect the specified penalty sum.

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to amend The Summary Offences Procedures Act, 1990, and, to the extent required, The Municipalities Act, to allow enforcement of certain Bylaw offences to which a voluntary payment option exists by adding such fine to the ratepayer’s annual municipal taxes if not paid within the time stipulated in the Bylaw.