It seems that parking problems still plague Cobourg’s waterfront with people still miffed after receiving a ticket.
On Saturday, July 12, 2025 a number of people received tickets of $160.00 for parking in the Charles Street parking lot.
A number of people were issued the tickets even after paying for parking at the ticket machine directly in front of the parking lot on Charles Street, just east of Division Street that is strictly for Cobourg residents only.
One Lindsay resident paid $20.00 to park in the lot only to come back to his vehicle where he received a $160.00 parking ticket.
“I came with my girlfriend and parked in what I thought was for this parking lot,” said the man shortly after receiving his ticket from the windshield of his vehicle.
The man said he has no issue with the bylaw officer, but said it was a “very poorly” worded sign.
“It says it’s for Charles Street parking lot, but it doesn’t say (where he parked) that it’s the Charles Street parking lot.”
“$160.00 is not a little amount of money and I think that this is a little bit over the top for Cobourg to be doing this.”
Although a sign by the ticket machine states that tickets from the machine directly in front of the parking lot are not valid for the Charles Street parking lot.
“It makes it extremely misleading to say the least.”
It was his first time in Cobourg and due to what happened, he said he’ll not be visiting again.
Just a a few moments after, another person who was not from Cobourg, was just about to pay for parking in the lot was told by the communications spokesperson for the Town of Cobourg that the machine on Charles Street was not for the parking lot which potentially saved him a $160.00 ticket.
There was also congestion on Charles Street as a number of motorists headed the wrong way on the one way street.
Thankfully the motorists made it safely, avoiding oncoming traffic.
Victoria Beach was also packed with visitors to the area and it was apparent that Lake Ontario has warmed up enough that people were enjoying cooling off in the water.
Later in the afternoon, a man and his best friend were taking a paddle around the inner of Cobourg Harbour to end their evening.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
