By: Laurene Jardin

If you’re worried about being mistakenly issued a parking ticket, avoid Ottawa’s downtown in January or March.

Data collected through the city’s open database show that Somerset Ward had the most complaints for wrongly charged parking tickets in both 2013 and 2014.

Small business owner Woody Baidoun said that the he was not surprised that downtown had the most complaints. He said that the fear of parking downtown is hurting his business.

“The city must lower the price of parking,” he said.

People parked in Somerset were 15 times more likely to complain about being wrongly issued a parking ticket in 2014. Those parked in Rideau-Vanier were four times more likely to file a complaint, making Ottawa’s downtown an uninviting place for drivers who need to find a parking spot.

Catherine McKenney, councillor of Somerset ward, declined to comment on the issue.

Mathieu Fleury, councillor of Rideau-Vanier, said that the number of complaints in his ward could be largely attributed to being both residents and the 43 000 students from University of Ottawa.

“It’s also the economic hub of Ottawa,” Fleury said.

There were 1006 complaints in the city last year. This number could be even greater, since many who have been wrongly ticketed often don’t file a formal complaint. Chris Waterston, a resident of Rideau-Vanier ward is one of them.

“I’ve never bothered contest a ticket its never worth the time,” said Waterston.

Waterston’s girlfriend lives in Somerset and he is no stranger to parking tickets.

A parking ticket in Ottawa can cost anything from $35 to $450. If paid within two weeks the fine is typically lower.

“It blows my mind. It’s like they’re trying to give you an incentive to not contest the ticket,” said Waterston.

“A fine is a fine. If you pay if late you get fees added on. That’s it.”

Defence attorney, Dylan Jones said unless it is a serious violation–such as parking in an accessibility parking spot or double parking—contesting a parking ticket is typically not worth it.

“Really, who do parking tickets benefit? No one. It’s a relatively harmless infraction and it hurts merchants,” Jones said.

Baidoun, who manages Alla Moda Hair & Esthetics on Bank Street, agreed.

Baidoun laughed half-heartedly as he remembered the time one of his clients got a ticket, despite still having money in the parking meter. At her next appointment Baidoun’s client expressed her frustration and told him she had contested her ticket and won.

“I’m just lucky she’s a loyal customer,” Baidoun said.  “Maybe it’s happened to others who don’t come back.”

Baidoun fears that his business is losing money because people won’t bother paying for parking and risk getting a ticket. Instead he said they’ll go to a mall where the parking is free.

“It’s downtown. It should be busy. It’s what we expect,” Baidoun said. “But it’s not, because parking is difficult.”

Sticker parking is offered year round for residents of both wards. On heavy snow days the city bans overnight parking.

Waterston said that people are left stranded when there is an overnight parking ban because the city offers no other parking zone for those who need street parking. This makes those who don’t have a driveway more vulnerable to getting tickets.

“You’re pretty much left off at Schitt’s Creek,” said Waterston.

March and January were the months with the most complaints in 2014 and 2013.

The city could not say why the trend occurred in these months.