Road tolls for local charities are coming to an end in Quinte West.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, councillors heard a proposal and voted to abolish the current municipal policy that allows for road tolls as a charity fundraiser.
Road toll fundraisers involve members of a charitable organization soliciting donations from passing vehicles along a public roadway. Under the existing framework, up to six road tolls were allowed to take place in the community over the course of the year, and no organization can perform more than one per year. The tolls could also only take place on weekends.
The motion to end the municipal policy that allows the road tolls came with endorsements from the fire chief, police chief, and other municipal staff. In a written report given to council, safety issues and traffic disruptions were listed as some of the driving factors behind recommending the road tolls be stopped.
Councillor Zach Card was in favour of abolishing the road tolls.
“I feel that the safety concerns are legitimate, but at the same time, I feel like the events and the fundraising could still happen within certain confines,” said Councillor Card. “Parking lots, that sort of thing that doesn’t block up roadways for first responders.”
