Parking Fines Going Up in Toronto This Summer

Toronto’s Parking Fines Set to Increase this Summer

April 18, 2024 TruthUSA

Fines for parking violations are increasing in the City of Toronto starting in August.

City councilors voted in favor of raising fines for over 100 parking violations – from parking on a footpath or failing to use parking machines to parking without a valid permit.

The vote passed 20 to 1 during a council meeting on April 17.

Coun. Jennifer McKelvie mentioned that council decided on a balanced approach.

“We had some bears that thought that the fines were too high, and we had some bears that thought that the fines were too low, and I think in the end city staff have come back with fines that are really just right,” she said at the council meeting.

The decision was based on a report [pdf] from the Infrastructure and Environment Committee released on March 12 that reviewed penalty fees for street parking violations.

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The report mentioned that there has been a “general increase” in the number of parking violations since the pandemic and “general parking and traffic offenses trended upward over the last five years.”

In 2019, there were 1,547,480 parking violations issued for infractions that are set to receive higher fines. These numbers decreased in 2020 to 979,204.

The figures rose from 1,020,044 in 2021 to 1,295,160 in 2022. In 2023, there were 1,660,401 violations, according to the report.

Parking violation fees in Toronto are generally lower than in neighboring jurisdictions and have not kept pace with inflation, as per the report.

The report also stated that the city could generate up to $62 million with the new fee structure.

Starting August 1, some of the changes include a $50 increase for parking in a bike lane (increasing from $150 to $200) and a rise in not paying a required fee at parking machines from $30 to $50.

New regulations for electric vehicle parking and charging will be introduced. Operators of off-street parking facilities currently have limited enforcement capabilities around EV charging due to a lack of offense provisions in the municipal code regarding EV-designated parking in certain parts of parking facilities, according to the document.

The new fee structure will impose a $75 fine on vehicles parked in EV charging spots that are not actively charging.

McKelvie anticipated resistance from residents regarding the new fines.

“There is an option for every citizen of Toronto, and that is to park legally and not pay the fine,” she said.

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