Kananaskis Conservation Pass: offence ticket update
Trip date: Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Submitted by MaSid
Particpants:
Discussion:
Offence date: Oct 18, 2022 (no conservation pass).
My pass had expired 2 weeks prior (no email notification due to purchase in person and not being offered a reminder option). Purchased a new pass immediately thereafter, again in person, and also got them to provide an email notification prior to expiry.
Court Date: Dec 1, 2022 (pleaded not guilty and a new court date to be set).
Shortly thereafter was advised of a new court date to make my case on March 23, 2023.
On Dec 15, 2022: Advised in writing by Alberta Forestry, Parks and Tourism that the violation ticket had been cancelled due to technical issues, no further explanation, no name/person, no contact info and didn’t even look like official government letterhead.
My take on it is that there was no desire on the part of the government department (or the private corporation doing enforcement) to have to stand up in court and defend their actions and the particular regulation and methodology as it would be a threat to its existence or bad press. During the process of trying to plead not guilty, turned out that things were not normal, the violation/regulation is a bylaw offence, not a typical legislative regulation such as a traffic offence, etc. I’m guessing the whole thing is a bit dubious and possibly not quite up to legal standards. The only question now is whether the courts were advised of the ticket cancellation. No follow up by Alberta Courts to that affect so far.
So, if you get a ticket not realizing your annual pass had expired and you get a violation fine (which is double to cost of an annual pass), immediately buy a new annual pass, plead not guilty in writing before the date indicated (avoiding an in person court appearance to do so in lieu of meeting timelines), and you will likely get a cancellation notification. And ensure your annual pass has an email reminder of expiry option.