SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Tony Vane said he is tired of city bylaw officers pulling over drivers in front of his gas station and blocking customers from the pumps.

It's been about two years since the last time a bylaw vehicle blocked the entrance to YK Motor's gas pumps - until it happened again on Oct. 6, said owner Tony Vane. - photo courtesy of Tony Vane

Vane, the owner of YK Motors located at the corner of Highway 3 and 49 Avenue, said a Yellowknife Municipal Enforcement Division (MED) vehicle pulled over a pick-up truck on Highway 3 in front of his business on the morning of Oct. 6.

The pick-up truck drove into the YK Motors parking lot and the MED vehicle parked and blocked the entrance to the gas pumps with the overhead lights flashing, he said.

"Is that the way the city wants to help businesses? They block the entrance to my gas station?" Vane said.

"They (directed) the truck into my private property. So what the hell are they doing - trying to put me out of business?"

Vane said this is not the first time a bylaw vehicle has pulled someone over and blocked the entrance to the gas pumps. He claims about two years ago he was having problems with bylaw repeatedly stopping vehicles and blocking his entrance.

Vane said he finally complained to Doug Gillard, manager of Municipal Enforcement for the city who assured him it would not happen again. But after the Oct. 6 incident, Vane said he wonders if Wednesday's incident is a sign of more things to come.

"I want to put a stop to (this) before it becomes a tradition," he said.

Vane said he was so irate he didn't bother trying to call the city or Gillard, but instead called Yellowknifer.

"I didn't talk to them, there's no sense trying to talk to them - they think they're 'four star generals.' As far as I'm concerned, we should get rid of them and hire more dogcatchers."

Doug Gillard said he heard about the incident, but declined to offer any comment on the issue.

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