Kelowna busker fined for disturbing the peace; claims he was bullied by bylaw officer | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Light Rainshower  3.8°C

Kelowna News

Kelowna busker fined for disturbing the peace; claims he was bullied by bylaw officer

Kelowna street performer Michael S.E. Elliott was issued a $500 ticket on Saturday for not displaying his busking permit, even though he does not need one.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK

KELOWNA - A Kelowna busker has received an outpouring of support after a video of a bylaw officer ticketing the musician in the city's downtown went viral.

Michael S.E. Elliott was playing music in downtown Kelowna at the corner of Bernard Avenue and Pandosy Street on Saurday, March 11 when a bylaw officer gave him a ticket for $500 creating a disturbance. In the video the officer can be heard saying he had received a complaint.

Elliott shared the video Wednesday, March 15, and it had over 1,500 and 300 shares.

In the video, the bylaw officer asks for Elliot's busking permit and the musician says he doesn't need one if he isn't performing at one the official busking stops. That's true according to Festivals Kelowna which administers the Kelowna Busking program.

“This is not the first time I’ve dealt with bylaw officers who seem to be confused and misinformed about the bylaw and how it pertains specifically to busking,” Elliott said.

He says the responding RCMP officers characterized the incident as a pissing match with the bylaw officer.

Before fighting the ticket, Elliott is asking the public for their opinion on busking.

“I’m not exactly sure what to do,” Elliott says in the video. “Before I do anything I need to know from you how you feel.”

He says he can't afford to pay the ticket, especially now that he is unable to busk.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Jenna Hickman or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2017
iNFOnews

  • Popular kamloops News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile