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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Department of Transportation has increased penalties and fines on driving infractions in the territory although it will be a while yet before some of them apply in the city.

Cnst. Maciek Juszczyk with municipal enforcement shows off the portable radar gear he uses to catch speeders around Yellowknife. Bylaw is warning Yellowknifers to slow down, as they are giving out more excessive” speeding tickets than ever. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

As of Oct. 1, fines for speeding through a school or construction zone have doubled, according to Earl Blacklock, manager of public affairs with the department. Fines vary according to speed. Fines for drivers caught behind the wheel without a valid licence will triple increasing to $300 from $100.

"It's not a penalty for forgetting your licence, it's for not having a valid license," Blacklock said.

The steepest fine is aimed at drivers on the road who do not have insurance, with an increase to $1,700 from $500 plus a victim surcharge that adds up to $1,955.

Blacklock said it took roughly a month to get the new fines in place.

"The final recommendation went to the minister in September," he said, adding fines were increased to ensure the punishment fits the crime.

"Whenever we review our legislation we want to make sure we are accomplishing what we want," he said. "We had to consider what the appropriate penalty should be."

While fines for driving without a valid licence or insurance is now pricier throughout the territory, higher tickets for speeding in school or construction zones haven't come to Yellowknife yet.

The new fines enacted by the Department of Transportation are enforced under the Motor Vehicles Act, whereas in Yellowknife drivers are charged for speeding offences under the highway traffic bylaw.

Although the city has not yet followed through in making the speeding in specified zones as steep as fines under the Motor Vehicles Act, there are plans to do so soon.

Doug Gillard, manager of the municipal enforcement division with the city, said the only reason the new fines were not imposed for the city at the same time as the rest of the territory is because he was not made aware of it in time.

"I didn't find out about it until about a week or so before," he said. "It's our intention to present a memo to city council to consider (increased fines)."

Gillard said there are "definitely" plans to follow suit with the GNWT and said that the fines will not exceed what the Department of Transportation has put in place.

"We cannot exceed the fines the Motor Vehicles Act sets out. So we generally follow the same fines that they set out," he said.