Item - 2015.PW7.12

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize that Fixed Fines for the "No Parking" Offences (Codes 5, 14, 16, 17, 18, 77) be increased from $40.00 to $50.00.

2.  City Council authorize that Fixed Fines for offences related to Fail to Park/Stop Parallel to Curb (Codes 11, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55 and 56) be increased from $15.00 to $30.00.

3.  City Council authorize that the Fixed Fine for “Stop on/over Sidewalk/Footpath” (Code 30) be increased from $60.00 to $150.00.

4.  City Council authorize that the Fixed Fines for Bus and Transit Parking related offences (Codes 320, 192) be increased from $40.00/$60.00 to $150.00.

5.  City Council authorize that the Fixed Fine for Stop Roadside-(Stopped/Parked) Vehicle (Code 31) which deals with the double parking offence when a live lane of traffic is obstructed be increased from $60.00 to $150.00.

6.  City Council authorize that the Fixed Fine for “Stop vehicle-reserved designated lane" (Code 423) be increased from $60.00 to $150.00.

7.  City Council authorize the City Solicitor to amend the appropriate by-laws to revise the fixed fine amounts in accordance with Recommendations 1 to 6, inclusive, of the report dated September 14, 2015 of the General Manager, Transportation Services Division and Treasurer.

8.  City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make the necessary application to the Regional Senior Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice to establish new/revised set fine amounts equal to the fixed fine amounts, respectively, identified in and in accordance with Recommendations 1 to 6, inclusive, of the report dated September 14, 2015, of the General Manager, Transportation Services Division and Treasurer.

This report:

a.  provides an overview of the existing Set Fine structure and makes recommendations to increase certain set fine amounts;

b.  recommends that application be made to the Regional Senior Justice in order to increase certain Parking Ticket Set Fines; and

c.  recommends that all applicable by-laws be amended in order to give effect thereto.

Municipalities across Ontario maintain a Parking Ticket Set Fine/Fixed Fines system in accordance with the Provincial Offences Act.  These Set Fines/Fixed Fines are the fines payable when offenders park illegally and receive parking tickets.  The City of Toronto reviews its Parking Ticket Set Fines/Fixed Fines annually with a view to determining the appropriateness of its fine amounts with respect to the seriousness of the offence and to compare with fine levels in other municipalities.  More recently, and with traffic congestion a priority of the City, certain parking fines which impact traffic and/or affect life-safety were reviewed to determine the appropriateness of the existing fine amounts.  Legal Services Division was consulted in the preparation of this report.