New Late Evening Alley Access Bylaw goes into effect on January 1, 2024

The City’s new Late Evening Alley Access Bylaw No. 2145 will take effect in North Battleford on January 1, 2024. The Bylaw’s third reading was passed at City Council on October 23, 2023.

The intent of the Bylaw is to limit pedestrian and vehicle traffic in city alleyways between the hours of 11:00pm and 6:00am. These limitations do not apply to those who are accessing alleys adjacent to their residences and their permitted guests, to those who are accessing properties using alleys for lawful business purposes, or law enforcement and first responder personnel.

Those who are found in contravention of this Bylaw could face fines ranging from $250 to $2500. Similar Bylaws exist in the communities of Prince Albert and Nipawin. Battlefords RCMP consulted with law enforcement agencies in these other communities when advocating for implementation of a similar Bylaw in North Battleford.    

The City’s Director of Protective Services, Chief Lindsay Holm, notes that the Bylaw is another tool that RCMP and Community Safety Officers may use to reduce the number of persons accessing properties illegally in dimly-lit dark alleyways.  

“If someone is walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night, there is typically a reason for it. North Battleford experiences a high number of crimes of opportunity resulting in charges related to trespassing, mischief, and theft. The goal for this Bylaw is to discourage people from using alleyways as a way to evade law enforcement and to access properties illegally.”               

The Late Evening Alley Access Bylaw will enter into effect on January 1, 2024. Those with questions about the Bylaw and how it may relate to them can be directed to the City Clerk at cityclerk@cityofnb.ca.
             

-30-

For more information:
Candace Toma, Public & Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator
306-441-0713 | publicrelations@cityofnb.ca