Police will begin another crackdown on drivers who park illegally during rush hour beginning on October 5.
Mayor John Tory and Police Chief Mark Saunders made the announcement outside city hall on Wednesday morning.
The campaign will see an enhanced police presence on major arteries in an area bounded by Bloor Street to the north, Lake Shore Boulevard to the south, the Don Valley Parkway to the east and Dufferin Street to the west.
It is not imediately clear how long the campaign will run for.
“Though the zero-tolerance policy continues to be enforced I have noticed and people have told me that the bad actors are once again choosing to selfishly block lanes of traffic during rush hour for their own purpose,” Tory said in announcing the details of the blitz. “Like seatbelts, like distracted driving, like driving while impaired, it is necessary for us to continue to emphasize the fact that this is wrong, selfish and unacceptable.”
In January and February, police conducted a towing blitz targeting vehicles that were parked illegally on major arteries during the morning and afternoon rush hours.
The blitz saw 76 vehicles towed on the first day alone and more than 1,000 by the end of January.
Speaking with reporters following a meeting with his road closure coordination committee on Wednesday, Tory said he'd prefer it if he didn't have to launch yet another blitz but has noticed "bad habbits seeping back into the system"
“You wish we didn’t have to do these blitzes because you wish that people would get it their first time and decide to change their behavior permanently but human nature is what it is,” he said. “I am here today to say that those blocking roadways obviously need a reminder that their selfish behavior is causing a lot of inconvenience for other people.”
Police have tagged about 60,000 vehicles and towed about 12,000 on downtown streets during rush hour since January 6.
Discussing the campaign with reporters, Police Chief Mark Saunders said it is about more than just reducing traffic and speeding up commutes.
"When the rush hour routes are congested drivers are using the side streets and that increases the safety factors for the young boys and girls in those areas," he said. "By keeping the rush hour routes clear it not only allows people to get to and from their locations in a more speedy manner; it also enhances safety across the city."
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