Toronto police to start ticketing drivers who don't pay for street parking on stat holidays starting this Family Day

Toronto police say paid on-street parking on statutory holidays was not enforced in the past and the decision to start ticketing drivers comes after an increased demand for parking in a growing city.

Thestar.com
Feb. 13, 2024
Asma Sahebzada

Toronto police have made some changes to street level parking rates on statutory holidays.

In a news release on Monday, police say officers will begin enforcing paid  on-street parking on all stat holidays, starting Feb. 19 on Family Day.

Previously, the decision not to enforce paid on-street parking during holidays was "rooted in past bylaws and operational choices," police say.

Along with Toronto's growing population, the decision comes after a demand for parking space has increased in the city due to "curb competition" caused by streetcar corridors, bike lanes, CafeTO and other infrastructure developments, police say.

"Historically, it has been a practice not to enforce, but there are no by-laws that explicitly exempt statutory holidays from enforcement and this change aligns with existing bylaws that permit enforcement on those days," the news release reads.

Police say the change is an "operational decision" made by police for the Toronto Police Service’s Parking Enforcement Unit. The service says parking rates will be managed by and collected for the city.