More than $2M in parking tickets issued in Toronto following historic snowstorm
Between January 15 and 30, parking enforcement officers issued 21,508 fines of $100 to drivers parked on snow routes.
The January 25 snowstorm that hit southern Ontario was a historic winter event, hitting Toronto’s downtown core with 61 cm of accumulation.
That led to city-wide Major Snowstorm Condition and Major Weather Event declarations, which ban parking in places that can impede snow removal.
But it appears some drivers didn’t get the message, according to data from Toronto Police Services (TPS).
Between January 15 and 30, parking enforcement officers issued 21,508 fines of $100 to drivers parked on snow routes.
That’s more than 2.1 million dollars’ worth of parking tickets.
In addition to tickets for parking on a snow route, 152 other tickets with fines up to $500 were issued for other infractions, including parking on streetcar routes, or parking a vehicle that blocks the passage of a streetcar on a snow route, the CBC reports
In total, $2,193,600 in fines related to snow infractions were handed out across the city in late January.
The city issues major snowstorm declarations to expedite snow plowing and clearing, which helps open roads for emergency and transit vehicles, and improves accessibility of sidewalks, bike lanes, and school bus loading zones.
Crews have been busy: Between January 16 and February 10, almost 300,000 tonnes of snow were removed.
Drivers are reminded not to park where temporary orange “No Parking – Snow Removal” signs are posted, because it means snow removal will take place in those areas within 24 to 48 hours.
Drivers warned not to reserve street-side parking
City officials are also reminding people with street parking permits that they cannot reserve street-side, city parking spots with cones, even if they shovelled the snow themselves.
Officials made the announcement after reports of residents placing parking cones in empty spots in an attempt to 'claim' them.
“Chapter 743 of the Toronto Municipal Code prohibits residents from obstructing a street, with an associated fine of $240,” a spokesperson told CityNews.
A ‘reserved’ parking spot can be reported to enforcement at 311.
WATCH BELOW: Toronto vs. Snow: Is the city prepared?
With files from April Walker. Header image: File stock image for illustration purposes only. Sourced from Canva Pro.