Don't park your car randomly! Toronto imposes heavy fines for traffic congestion at intersections, with a maximum fine of $500 for illegal parking!
As the Toronto City Council approves new measures to combat traffic congestion on city streets, drivers blocking intersections will face higher fines. The fine has skyrocketed from 90 yuan to 450 yuan, and the fine for improper parking in community safety zones has also increased from 120 yuan to 500 yuan.
The transportation service department of Toronto police stated that they will conduct surprise inspections at major intersections in the city and issue a fine of $450 to violators, which is a significant increase from the previous $90 fine. In addition, the fine for improper parking in the community safety zone has been increased from 120 yuan to 500 yuan.
Toronto police officer Matt Moyer explained this measure on CBC radio: "When a vehicle blocks an intersection, they may only turn halfway or get stuck at the intersection, which can push others onto the road or even squeeze out of the bike lane, endangering the safety of other drivers. All of this is a bad decision.
The Toronto City Council approved higher fines in September to help Toronto cope with severe traffic congestion. Toronto's traffic conditions are notorious for being a crisis and one of the worst in North America.
Image source: CTV
Although some drivers believe that high fines can help improve the situation, others suggest that education and warnings should be strengthened.
Expert: This is moving in the right direction
Matti Siemiatycki, director of the Infrastructure Research Institute at the University of Toronto, said that as a member of the road, he is also deeply troubled by traffic issues. He believes that increasing fines is a step in the right direction, although it helps alleviate road congestion, it may not necessarily solve the fundamental traffic problem. He pointed out, "Toronto is being choked by traffic congestion and congestion, caused by too many cars and insufficient space, while traffic congestion is due to people not following the rules in many cases
He suggested that more drivers should consider using public transportation, and the city government could consider increasing road tolls to reduce congestion, but this requires approval from the provincial government.
Teresa Di Felice, Vice President of Government Relations at the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), stated that drivers should plan their trips in advance to avoid congestion at intersections caused by anxiety. According to a city report in October 2023, the presence of traffic law enforcement officers can reduce intersection congestion by 96% and shorten travel time by 33%.
Drivers have different opinions on fines
Delivery driver Ankit Rana said he welcomes stricter enforcement measures. He pointed out that the delivery time in Toronto is three times longer than other cities in the Greater Toronto Area, mainly due to traffic congestion causing accidents and further delays.
Another driver, Jefferson Junior, agrees with this point and hopes that the city's congestion plan can help educate drivers to keep intersections clear.
He said, "Driving in Toronto is really frustrating, and we're even considering moving out of Toronto because the traffic here is so bad
Image source: rates
But driver Don Millette believes that a fine of several hundred yuan is unreasonable unless the driver repeatedly blocks the intersection. He said that some people just don't pay attention, right? I didn't even know that doing so would result in a fine.
He believes that education and promotion of courtesy are more effective than fines, and people should be given the opportunity to change lanes instead of blocking intersections.
Toronto police will focus on law enforcement at major intersections during peak hours. The police stated that drivers who are stopped will be guided to nearby parking areas or side lanes to minimize traffic interference.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/toronto/comments/1gjhu2d/toronto_police_cracking_down_on_blocking_the_box/