A TransAlta contractor who used his keys to enter a power access road in order to fish in Banff National Park was fined $400 last week.
Randy Ray Fiddler entered guilty pleas in Canmore Provincial Court to charges of contravening the regulations of the Canada National Parks Act for his actions.
Crown prosecutor D. Nicole Dumaresque told Judge Les Grieve park wardens observed a Volkswagen sedan on the access road for TransAlta’s hydro facilities on July 3 at 2:30 p.m.
The road is usually gated and Dumaresque said wardens observed a male and a female fishing.
When asked if they had a permit to be on the road, Fiddler identified himself as a contractor for the power company and said he used his keys to open the gate.
“He indicated he was not working and fishing on his own time,” she said.
Dumaresque added Fiddler was using live bait, which is prohibited. He also had lead weights in his tackle box, which are restricted as well.
Judge Grieve fined the man $400 total and warned him that just because he has a key does not make it his private road.
