Keeping things THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT Why do we UNIT: tag and tow? moving at your service

Safety and public convenience are the two most Parking Enforcement Officers patrol 24 hours a Parking Enforcement Officers important reasons. day, seven days a week on foot, by bicycle and in vehicles. We use a combination of information immediate response n Safety hazards occur when a vehicle sharing, ticketing and impounding to enhance n The Parking Enforcement Unit is responsible for obstructs the visibility of traffic and safety and convenience for all users of our ensuring compliance with City parking by-laws. pedestrians at a stop sign, blocks a fire roads. n Parking Enforcement Officers respond to parking hydrant or emergency vehicle access. complaints. In many instances, posted signs notify drivers of n Over 90,000 calls for service are dispatched yearly. n Traffic delays and grid-lock may result when parking regulations. Whenever possible, officers even one vehicle stops momentarily, blocking may inform motorists how to park legally and To call for a Parking Enforcement Officer, contact the a lane during rush hour. Motorist frustration avoid a ticket. A parking ticket may be issued, Toronto Police Service and the possibility of "road rage" increases. which imposes a fine on the registered owner of at (416) 808-2222. the vehicle. The final step is to tow and n Blocked driveways and permit parking zone impound the offending vehicle. There is no Area Supervisors violators impact parking in residential waiting period before towing a vehicle for a neighbourhoods. parking violation on city streets. exploring long-term solutions n Parking Enforcement Area Supervisors are at your n Meters and time-limit parking zones are Drivers leaving their vehicles in bus stops, no service. Area Supervisors work with community designed to allow short-term parking in stopping zones, no standing zones, rush hour members to explore, evaluate and problem-solve parking related issues affecting the community. high-traffic areas. Motorists who leave routes or parking illegally around schools will vehicles parked over the time-limit frustrate not be warned. These vehicles will be ticketed n Area Supervisors work with Business Improvement others who wish to shop and do business. and towed immediately. Associations, City of Toronto Councillors and City of Public convenience and the viability of a Toronto Transportation Services to provide workable long-term solutions to neighbourhood parking business district depends upon convenient problems. parking. n Area Supervisors are available for consultation by calling the Toronto Police Service, Parking Enforcement Unit. A call taker will be pleased to direct your call to the appropriate Area Supervisor.

To explore long-term solutions to neighbourhood parking problems, contact your Area Supervisor at (416) 808-6600.

Toronto Police Service 40 College St. Toronto, Ontario M5G 2J3 www.torontopolice.on.ca

TPS 551, 2002/11 TOP ways to Watch for signs. avoid Park safely at schools. As the pressure for on-street parking continues to build, ItÕs 3:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon, hundreds of more areas of Toronto have posted parking restrictions. receiving elementary school children are heading home. Parents New residential permit parking zones are added each are waiting to pick them up. Where can these vehicles year, time limit areas expand and rush hour signs a parking park safely? Most schools have signed areas that are 1multiply. Signs without specific times listed are in effect 7designed to accommodate motorists dropping off or ticket 24 hours a day. Tow away signs are posted in some areas 10 picking up children. Drivers should not use the no Toronto Police Service as an extra reminder, but are not required for vehicles to stopping or no parking zones in the vicinity of schools. be towed. These areas are usually located on either side of the mission statement street near schools and must be kept clear to provide We are dedicated to delivering policing clear visibility for motorists and students. Drivers Read the parking meters and services, in partnership with our communities, machines. should never double park to load or discharge children from their vehicles. This places children in a dangerous to keep Toronto the best and safest place to be. Hurried motorists often forget to check the information position of crossing a lane of traffic without seeing or on the meter or pay and display machine before being seen by other motorists. 2depositing coins or employing other payment methods. Always make sure you check the days and hours the Know the difference between: meter is in effect or whether there are rush hour restrictions which require the vehicle to be moved. "no parking", "no stopping" and "no standing". Be courteous Ð Do not park in The no stopping anytime and no standing anytime Parking Enforcement Unit the disabled parking spaces. symbols8 are the most restrictive parking statement of purpose Show consideration for the parking spaces reserved regulations in Toronto. Once a vehicle has ceased exclusively for vehicles displaying valid Disabled moving, even if occupied, it is deemed stopped or The purpose of Parking Enforcement within Person Parking Permits both on-street and on standing. If a driver chooses to stop or stand in any the City of Toronto is to: 3 of these zones, they can be ticketed and towed. The private property. When non-permit holders park in these spaces, those with disabilities are often left with no parking anytime symbol is less restrictive. Drivers n Assist with the safe and orderly flow of no other parking alternative. are allowed to use these zones while actually engaged traffic in loading or unloading goods or to pick up or Stay away from corners. discharge passengers. Remember, the key is "while actually engaged". Do not leave your vehicle n Respond to the parking concerns of the The space at the end of the block is an inviting unattended in these areas. community temptation to the frustrated driver looking for a parking space. Beware! The City of Toronto requires vehicles to n Regulate parking park at least 9 metres from the curb line of the Respect residential parking restrictions. 4intersecting street. The corner clearance by-law is In responding to neighbourhood concerns about intended to provide pedestrians, cyclists and motorists parking pressures, the City of Toronto has established n Provide operational support to the Toronto with a clear field of vision and plenty of space when many residential permit parking zones. These areas are Police Service approaching intersections. Use off-street parking. clearly posted and for the exclusive use of area residents 9during posted times. Other parking alternatives are OLIC P E TO SE Do your meetings run late? Does the doctor keep you N R O V I available for visitors and service people. R C

O E Leave bus stops for buses. waiting? Utilizing off-street parking options will avoid T Drivers often pull into bus stops to wait for a friend, buy the hassle of worrying about an expired meter, moving E PARKING N T Err on the side of caution. FO EN a cup of coffee or use a bank machine. Even a quick stop your vehicle out of a time limit area, or your vehicle RCEM blocks the zone, forcing transit drivers to unload or load 6being subject to rush hour route provisions. The Have I parked too close to the corner? What do those passengers on the street. This is a potential hazard for purpose of metered and time limit areas is to encourage signs mean? Am I blocking another vehicle? If youÕre 5elderly and disabled passengers and an inconvenience the turnover of vehicles in places where there is a high not sure, find another spot. Parking Enforcement for other motorists when the bus is unable to pull into demand for on-street parking. If your appointment receives thousands of complaints each year from people 10inconvenienced by a poor parking decision. the zone. requires longer term parking, save the cost of a ticket and use a parking lot.