The Oak Bay inventory of electric vehicle charging spaces had doubled recently with an updated bylaw adopted.
A longstanding station at municipal hall provides free charging for those doing business there, while a new station offers charging for two vehicles adjacent to the Oak Bay Recreation Centre. The new site on Goldsmith Street is a pay-per-use site.
The bylaw in place for electric vehicle parking, however, lacked teeth according to district staff.
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Prior to recent amendments, Oak Bay’s streets and traffic bylaw didn’t define an electric vehicle and staff could theoretically ticket a non-EV parked in a charging space, but it could easily be disputed. The bylaw now defines an EV, which includes hybrids, and created specific EV charging zones.
That allows for clarity for users that only EVs can legally park in the spaces adjacent to the stations.
The bylaw now also specifies that vehicles must be charging to legally park there.
While finalizing the bylaw during the Jan. 9 council meeting, Coun. Carrie Smart reiterated a concern voiced during earlier conversations – that someone not be ticketed simply for getting to their car a few minutes later than charging finishes.
It’s a potential enforcement issue, Mayor Kevin Murdoch agreed, that will need to be dealt with should it arise.
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christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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