Sault ponders how to respond to parking meter vandalism

A string of vandalism in the Sault's downtown has the city out dozens of parking meters worth tens of thousands of dollars.

As police search for the suspect, the city is planning next steps for parking cost collection.

A string of vandalism in the Sault's downtown has the city out dozens of parking meters worth tens of thousands of dollars. As police search for the suspect, the city is planning next steps for parking cost collection. (Photo from video)

Surveillance cameras recorded the male suspect on the night of Aug. 1, destroying some of 74 parking meters in the city’s downtown.

"We had 18 single-head and 28 double-head parking meters that were vandalized,” said Nicole Maione, the city’s parking manager.

“It is our understanding, based on the damage, that they were smashed quite significantly."

Maione said the cost of the damaged meters is almost $40,000. She said the perpetrator likely wouldn't have collected the price of just one single-head parking meter, which cost $750.

"There isn't a lot of money held in the parking meters and they are emptied frequently on a periodic basis,” she said.

A string of vandalism in the Sault's downtown has the city out dozens of parking meters worth tens of thousands of dollars. As police search for the suspect, the city is planning next steps for parking cost collection. (Photo from video)

“There is anywhere there could have been a couple of dollars or, you know, maybe up to $10."

With significant replacement costs, the city is weighing its options on what to do to charge for parking.

"We're looking at pay-and-display meters,” Maione said.

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“But we've also got currently the Passport Mobile Parking app, which is throughout the entire downtown core -- including on all the streets -- which is currently available."

The city is leaning towards the Passport Parking App, where drivers pay via credit card and input their parking zone and licence plate.

As for the parking meter vandal, Sault police and Crime Stoppers are asking the public for any information that could identify the person responsible.