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At the Tuesday (February 26) council meeting, politicians will consider a new approach to enhance the collection of fines for fighting in the Granville Entertainment District.

According to a motion going before council from NPA councillor Melissa De Genova, nearly two-thirds of the people booked in the Vancouver jail between Friday and Sunday nights in 2015 and 2016 didn't live within city limits.

This stat suggests there's truth to the long-standing belief that the "bridge and tunnel crowd" is largely responsible for late-night weekend mayhem on Granville Street.

But it's not always easy for the city to collect fines from them for their bad behaviour—in fact, it can result in greater costs if it has to be sent to collections, according to the motion.

De Genova has proposed that council direct staff to consult with the Vancouver Police Department and the B.C. government about policies or bylaws that would ensure greater success in collecting fines.

This will include considering whether to withhold the renewal of motor-vehicle insurance, a B.C. driver's licence, or B.C. identification cards until fines for "fighting or similar offences" are paid.

Coun. Melissa De Genova is hoping that the city will have more tools to force those who resort to fisticuffs to pay their fines.

De Genova's motion states that the street homeless, people with no fixed address, and those with debilitating mental illness "are not among the demographics typically issued fines for fighting" in the entertainment district.

Moreover, it notes that the "City of Vancouver operating budget annually faces increased costs for public safety", which are covered by the city's residents, businesses, and property owners.

The motion also asks council to direct staff to explore whether the city has authority to ensure that unpaid fines for fighting could affect a person's credit rating.