St-Laurent bike shop owner challenges baffling parking signs

A bike shop owner in the Montreal borough of St-Laurent has gone out of his way to get a parking ticket, so the courts can decide if the parking signs posted near his shop are confusing and need to be clarified.

From his service counter, Howard Leesays he looks out ontodu Collge Street, andhe can see a series of parking signs and customers scratching their heads.

The signs seem to give motorists conflicting information about whentheycan and cannot park.

"In other areas of Montreal where signs are conflicting, they've added maybe a notation in French'unless otherwise prohibited.'"Lee said, noting that people have complained to the city for three years to no avail.

"Everyday I observe numerous cars always getting ticketed," Lee says.

He recently decided enough was enough. He got a parking ticketdeliberatelyand ischallenging it inmunicipal court.

St-Laurent mayor denies signs are baffling

St-Laurent Mayor Alan DeSousa admits when permit parking was introduced about four years ago, there was some confusion.

However, he insists motorists simply need to knowhow to interpret the signs.

"The simplicity of it is that you have to read two signs," DeSousa said."You have to read the top signs to let you know at all times what applies, and thenthe bottom sign to see what leeway you have."

"Then you have to read those two signs together."

Few bother to fight back

The City of Montreal collects more than $60 million a year from parking tickets.

Many fed-up motorists blame unclear signs for their ticket, says lawyer Avi Levy but few choose to fight.

"The problem is when you take half a day off of work to fight a ticket that's worth $52, sometimes you end up losing even if you win the case," Levy said.

However, Lee says his fight for better signage is a matter of principle and a battle for the health of his business, too.

"If I have a customer that comes here once, if they get a ticket, then they're not coming back here anymore," Lee said.

DeSousa says the city is willing to print out instructional pamphlets.

"If the cycling crowd is a crowd that needs a little bit of help to know where the best place for parking is, thenI have no problem," the borough mayor said.

However, Lee said it's not just the "cycling crowd" that finds the signs confusing, and he's hoping a court ruling will clarify the matter.