• In the hopes of enhancing local compliance, Town Staff have recommended increasing fines for a variety of parking offences.
  • The proposed increase from $40 to $60 for “No Stopping” violations would target individuals caught illegally parking their vehicles on sidewalks, in school bus loading zones, intersections, and other designated “No Stopping” areas, or within nine meters of pedestrian crossovers.
  • A doubling of the current $125 penalty to $250 is suggested for anyone parking within a fire route.
  • Additionally, Staff have advised a $25 increase for individuals found parking within three meters of a fire hydrant, bringing the fine to $100.
  • Council will decide on the changes at their meeting tomorrow, April 3, commencing at 1 p.m. in Council Chambers.
  • If approved, the new penalty amounts will take effect on May 1, 2024.

 

Illegal parking and stopping can disrupt traffic flow and jeopardize pedestrian and vehicular safety. These increases, coupled with the Town’s advancing automated speed enforcement camera program, underscore Stouffville’s focus on deterring illegal behaviours through monetary penalties.

Staff highlighted a 2015 report detailing a City of Toronto study following similar penalty increases in 2013. That study revealed a 60% reduction in illegally stopped vehicles soon after “No Stopping” parking fines were elevated from $60 to $150 during rush hours.

While some of Stouffville’s proposed changes align with Toronto’s fees, Toronto has also raised some “No Stopping” fines to $100 or more. For instance, Toronto now issues $150 tickets for illegal stopping on sidewalks and $100 fines for illegal parking in school bus loading zones.

In the opinion of Town Staff, a $60 fine is an effective standard. “It is clear that increasing fine amounts has the desired impact of achieving greater compliance… therefore, Staff are making the recommendation to increase the ‘No Stopping’ offences from $40.00 to $60.00,” they stated in their report.

The same perspective has been applied to fine increases for fire route and fire hydrant parking offences. Illegal stopping in these areas can have significant life-safety consequences by obstructing Fire and Emergency Services’ vehicles and operations. According to Staff, greater penalties “will promote compliance and further the Town’s efforts to ensure safety in our communities.”

The Staff report concludes that increased fines may boost revenues. “However, with increased penalties, driver behaviour tends to change, resulting in increased compliance and thereby reducing the number of tickets issued,” the report adds. “Given the anticipated decrease in offences these increased penalties are expected to bring, revenues are forecasted to remain neutral.”