October 8th, 2009
TTC increases fines and adds new offences
By Nicole Bruun-Meyer // 15 Comments
We know none of our lovely Spacing readers would be silly enough to do any of these things, but if you ride the TTC, take note...
Effective October 12, the TTC's revised Bylaw No. 1 will take effect, increasing the set fines for a number of offenses and adding a few new ones to the list. In addition to the usual wrongdoings, the TTC will now have the authority to charge fines for misuse of priority seating, obstructing doors, laying across seats or putting your feet on the seats.
Over the past several months Special Constables have been educating TTC riders about the upcoming changes including the smoking fine jumping from $95 to $195, or the fine for 'altering fare media' which has gone up to $345. Last year, the TTC issued approximately $600,000 in fines.
Photo by Sam Javanrouh
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How strictly do we think these will be enforced? You can't not put your feet up when you're coming home late on the last train. The no-feet rules should by all means read 'during peak hours.'
what's wrong with laying across seats in an empty vehicle?
wondering how much of the $600,000 in fines were recovered?
What's this country coming too? Fines for putting your feet up? Come on!
Thank goodness I drive and WILL NEVER TAKE transit.
An increase in the smoking fine is meaningless when they dont hand out any tickets. I have seen countless TTC employees smoking away directly under the no smoking signs.
Is exiting through the front doors, instead of the center doors, "obstructing doors"? That is pet peeve of mine!
The TTC needs to crack down on littering by enforcing those fines. Perhaps plain clothes officers are necessary. I hate seeing subway cars with the pages of newspapers scattered, or a series of Metro papers on the ground. Leaving a paper behind for others seems nice, but come rush hour those papers end up on the floor.
The fines are collected by the courts. I don't have specifics on how they were dealt with.
Seats, with all due respect, are for sitting: they aren't foot stools nor beds. This a big complaint from customers... they feel intimidated, regardless if whether the vehicle is empty or not.
The bylaw will be enforced. Common sense will prevail, of course; you'll be asked to get your feet off the seat. If you refuse, you'll get a ticket.
@ Andrew: if you're anti-transit, why are you reading this blog?
Toronto most certainly needs more by-laws and regulations as there are not nearly enough now. More inspectors, enforcement officers and security are needed everywhere (particularly liquor inspectors) and these hirings will help offset job losses due to the economic situation. Whimsical behaviour must not be tolerated because it is just that: whimsical, and it negatively affects productivity and efficiency. Let's all hope that Toronto does not get a reputation as a feet on seats, door obstructing kind of city: orderly people may no longer find it attractive. Disobedience affects all Torontonians and must be punished.
I heard that on top of the fine there is also a $30 surcharge. So what, if you want to settle your TTC fine you have to go through Ticketmaster now? And then get directed to another website where the fine fine costs more?
I know we all make fun of the TTC's efforts at public service ads (sleeve sneeze, those weird pig-mask litter ones) but as far as boorish behaviour like taking up multiple seats when people are standing, it seems to me that a law-and-order approach is the wrong first move.
The people who sprawl across multiple seats while others stand (sitting, i always think, as if their balls need a seat of their own) aren't going to be deterred by a never-enforced bylaw - in fact, it might make it more attractive.)
I would like the following poster campaign: DON'T BE AN ASSHAT.
(or JERK if you prefer. Nice picture of a sprawling customer and a person standing)
I really think this might work.
I'd like to see a "We Stand Behind Our Customers" campaign to go along with the "We Stand Behind Our Employees" one.
As for the fines, how much are the panhandlers on the platforms/trains going to pay? Simply whipping out a ticket book isn't going to solve the problem there.
I got 235$ fine for riding a skateboard on ttc property
How much of those issued fines did they actually collect? Is that information available anywhere?
Comment by Jason tsang
October 8, 2009 | 5:10 pm