The following post appeared in March 2011 and has had much positive response: The pestilence of parking tickets seems to be with us for good, but there are rules. The Toronto Police Service has established a few directives for parking officers. In regular legal hours (i.e not rush hour) officers are supposed to permit a ten minute grace period. If anyone gets a ticket within less than ten minutes after the expiry time, call the TPS. We’re told the ticket will be annulled. The number is (416) 808-2222. On July 11, 2011 during its last meeting of the summer, City Council voted to implement the ten minute grace for all time-restricted parking offences, excluding major arterial routes during rush hour periods (rush hour periods are defined from Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Previously, the grace period had been five minutes. It continues to be true that unless the parking officer has actually slapped the ticket on your windshield, or handed it to you, no proper service has occurred. In other words, if you can drive away before the ticket is served, you will not be responsible for it. Shockingly, certain anti-due process types at City Hall under the old regime wanted to eliminate this right in law and declare you guilty regardless. Thank Heavens that hasn’t happened yet.
