Description
I saw your article on Parking Tickets in the city. For your consideration. I have also sent a copy to the Mayor, my City Councillor and the Ombudsman's Office.They have expressed sympathy but advised my only recourse is to go to court.
A friend recently received a parking ticket on my street, Third St. in Etobicoke.
Permits are required as of 12 a.m. The ticket was issued at 12:02. a.m. According to my clock my friend left my house by 12:00
I would challenge the City to provide proof that their clocks are accurate to the minute.
I understand there is a grace period for metered parking, I don't understand why there isn't a similar grace period for permit parking.
I think the actions of the parking officer were predatory to say the least in this case. I have lived on the street for 21 years. I can say with some assurance that space for permit parking holders is NOT at a premium as it may be on some streets in the City.
I object to having to take time off work to appear at a Parking Tag Operations office during work hrs. to request a trial option rather than being able to submit a trial option via fax or telephone or on line. If you can accept payment by these other methods, people should be allowed to file a dispute using the same means. It's only fair. I trust you will adopt the Ombudsman's recommendations to make the process more user friendly.
I would invite the Parking Authority to visit Third St. during the day and ticket the large number of employees, primarily from Campbell's Soup that use street parking as employee parking all day, Mon to Fri.
The street is also well used by the people who visit the Toronto Police College and the Military Training College on weekends and evenings. I wonder how often tickets are issued during the times and days when these organizations are hosting special events?
It appears the only people who are targeted are the guests of residents who park beyond the time of 12.
I don't mind paying a ticket for an honest infraction but this just feels like a cash grab on the part of the city.
Kathy Penfold
416-503-9717
6 Comments
Guest (Guest)
Dear Ms. Penfold:
Re: Dispute Process
I am in receipt of your January 6, 2013 e-mail concerning the above-referenced inquiry.
In your e-mail, you express concern over having to schedule a court date in order to dispute a Parking Infraction Notice that your friend had received.
The City of Toronto's Revenue Services Division, Parking Tag Operations is mandated to collect payment for parking infractions, adjudicate minor parking fine disputes and process a request for trial for those people wishing to dispute their parking ticket.
In addition, the City's Revenue Services Division, Parking Tag Operations Unit is unable to cancel parking infraction notices, as the Provincial Offences Act, Part II Section 17 requires that if a recipient of a ticket wishes to dispute the ticket they must arrange for a court date. The City of Toronto's Parking Tag Operations Unit cannot cancel tickets without a court ruling.
Therefore, if you are in disagreement with the Parking Infraction Notice issued to your friend, your only recourse is to set a trial date and bring your case before a Justice of the Peace.
The back of the Parking Infraction Notice advises you of the dispute process. In order to make a request for trial you or your agent must bring the notice personally to one of the four following First Appearance Facility (FAF) locations:
Parking Tag Operations - Central
55 John Street (John south of King)
3rd Floor, Metro Hall, Toronto, Ontario
Hours of operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Parking Tags Operations - East
1530 Markham Road
Main Floor, Scarborough, Ontario
Hours of operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Parking Tags Operations - West
York Civic Centre, 2700 Eglinton Avenue West
Main Floor, York, Ontario
Hours of operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 pm
Parking Tags Operations - North
North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street
Lower Level, North York, Ontario
Hours of operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 pm
Note: All four sites are wheelchair accessible.
Closed on statutory and civic holidays.
If you require additional information pertaining to this issue, you may wish to click onto the link provided www.toronto.ca/parkingtickets/parking_trial.htm .
I trust this information is of assistance.
Customer Service, Correspondence
City of Toronto
Revenue Services Division
User (Guest)
K. P. (Guest)
I have yet to be notified of a court date for the parking ticket received in Dec. 2012!!! Isn't justice delayed, justice denied?
K. P.
User (Registered User)
User (Registered User)
Closed User (Registered User)