Zero-tolerance towing policy will target out-of-province drivers ‘flouting the law’

WATCH ABOVE: Starting in February, drivers from outside Ontario with three or more unpaid parking tickets will be towed. Mark Carcasole reports.

TORONTO- Mayor John Tory today announced Toronto’s zero-tolerance towing policy will be expanded to out-of-province offenders.

Tory made the announcement Monday, and says habitual out-of-province offenders have been “selfishly blocking traffic” and “flouting the law.” He says the policy, to tow cars with three or more outstanding parking if found parked illegally, will now apply to everyone, both residents and visitors from outside the province.

Tory says it’s been a “long standing problem.” The city has little power in collecting outstanding fines from drivers with plates outside of Ontario. It does not have access to the information attached to plates and cannot enforce payment of tickets.

Tory says thousands of out-of-province vehicles get ticketed, but the majority go unpaid. He says some drivers have tickets “blowing in the wind like confetti.” He adds tow trucks will now await habitual offenders.

He says “We have to have zero tolerance to those who park illegally.”

The vehicles will be subject to a towing fee of approximately $200 plus daily storage fees of up to $80.

Tory says the policy will go into effect in February, after an education period by Toronto Police.

Traffic and road congestion appear to be the topic du jour at city hall.

Tory’s announcement comes as the budget committee discusses the proposed budget plan. It’s the first of four meetings, with the last on Thursday. The budget will be passed in March.

Meanwhile, city council is considering a $433-million plan that will chop the 20-year project to fix the crumbling Gardiner Expressway down to 12 years.

Tory’s towing announcement follows a week full of meetings and announcements regarding traffic and congestion.

The mayor chaired a second meeting with the road closures coordination committee. He announced children under 12 will ride the TTC free starting March 1, and everyone else will have to pay 10 cents more. A few days later, the executive committee approved another $1.65 million to study his flagship SmartTrack plan.

Tory ended the week at odds with the province’s finance minister, Charles Sousa.

Sousa said the city shouldn’t assume it will get financial help from the province.

Tory said he spoke to Premier Kathleen Wynne about the $86 million in funding, and not to Sousa.

TORONTO- Traffic and road congestion appears to be the topic du jour at city hall Monday morning with a “significant” announcement from Mayor John Tory.

Tory’s announcement comes as the budget committee discusses the proposed budget plan. It’s the first of four meetings, with the last on Thursday. The budget will be passed in March.

Meanwhile, city council is considering a $433-million plan that will chop the 20-year project to fix the crumbling Gardiner Expressway down to 12 years.

Tory’s announcement follows a week full of meetings and announcements regarding traffic and congestion.