Tory ‘disappointed’ with rush-hour traffic blitz numbers
Posted September 12, 2016 6:27 am.
Last Updated September 12, 2016 12:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
More than 1,400 tickets were issued and 300 vehicles were towed during last week’s four-day traffic blitz targeting rush-hour routes in downtown Toronto.
“People still haven’t got the message in terms of changing their behaviour,” Mayor John Tory said outside Union Station on Monday.
“I’m disappointed with the numbers as high as they are. They should be going down as people get the message, as we put up better signs, as we increase the fines.”
The mayor said the message does hit home if you are caught.
“When you have your car towed away, it will be unlikely unless you are really dumb, that you do that again,” he said.
“I just hope that more and more people remember this is not something that is a change in behaviour by the week or by the month. It’s a change in behaviour permanently.”
Last week, police said they would show “zero tolerance” for drivers found blocking and congesting rush hour routes, and would be issuing tickets and towing vehicles.
The traffic campaign focused on a area bounded by Bloor to Front streets and Parliament to Dufferin streets.
Related stories:
Police to ticket, tow vehicles blocking rush-hour routes
Tag and tow time for drivers parked illegally during downtown rush hour
Toronto police issued nearly 700 tickets, towed 100 vehicles during tag and tow blitz
Having a car towed comes at a hefty price tag. The penalties for having a vehicle towed include a towing fee of $200 and daily storage of $80.
A $150 fine applies for standing, stopping or parking illegally on rush-hour roads between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Cracking down on drivers that contribute to the city’s gridlock was one of Tory’s campaign promises back in 2014.
The city says it is already seeing results, noting there’s been an increase of driver compliance that’s led to a decrease in parking tickets issued.
In 2014, 2,498,660 parking tickets were issued. That number dropped slightly in 2015 to 2,183,523. As of Aug. 31, 1,534,660 tickets have been issued.
The city says approximately 6,289 tickets are issued per day, adding that it expects to have 50,000 fewer tickets issued overall this year.
Police to ticket, tow vehicles in rush-hour gridlock blitz. Watch the video below or click here to view it.
With files from Carl Hanstke and Faiza Amin
